Yale Law School and Thomson Reuters Announce Establishment of Thomson Reuters Initiative at the Yale Information Society Project

Yale Law School and Thomson Reuters today announced the establishment of the Thomson Reuters Initiative on Law and Technology at the Yale Information Society Project (ISP), which will foster research and intellectual community in the burgeoning area of information law. The initiative is made possible by a generous grant from Thomson Reuters.

Administered by the ISP, the initiative includes the selection of two Thomson Reuters fellows who will work closely with Yale faculty and staff studying cutting-edge issues at the intersection of law, technology and media; funding for workshops, a speaker series, and a conference focusing on these issues; and support for the leadership of the ISP.

“We face a world that is just beginning to realize the potential impact of information law and policy,” said Yale Law School Dean Robert C. Post. “Thomson Reuters has given the Yale ISP the ability to remain at the forefront of these important discussions. We are thrilled with the opportunities this grant presents.”

“As the leading provider of legal research, critical news, information and software to legal professionals, this initiative provides Thomson Reuters an opportunity to engage with innovative thinkers to continue providing the best ideas and insights on the implications of law and technology to the global legal community,” said Thomas H. Glocer, chief executive officer of Thomson Reuters and himself a graduate of Yale Law School. “By partnering with the Yale Information Society Project, a recognized center for thought leadership on these issues, we can continue to advance the discussion and spark ideas for combining technology and media in promoting justice and the rule of law.”

Another important component of the initiative will be the Thomson Reuters ISP Speaker Series on Information Law and Information Policy, which will feature leading experts in the field. The ISP will additionally convene weekly for “ideas lunches,” and in the spring, will host a cutting-edge conference on new issues facing information law.

The Thomson Reuters Fellows are Adam Cohen and Bryan Choi.

Adam Cohen worked as chief technology writer and bureau chief for Time magazine, and prior to that, was a staff attorney for The American Civil Liberties Union. He is the author of several books, including “Nothing to Fear: FDR’s Inner Circle and the Hundred Days That Created Modern America.” He holds a B.A. in social studies and a J.D. from Harvard. He will be researching how the law should respond to the rise of new media and has an article forthcoming on the subject in the Southern California Law Review. He will also be co-teaching courses in media law and Internet privacy law.

Bryan Choi worked as an associate with the firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP, in Washington, D.C., followed by clerkships with the Hon. Leonard I. Garth of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the Hon. William C. Bryson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He holds a B.A. in computer science and a J.D. from Harvard. He is researching topics in the areas of anonymity, digital identity, privacy, and reputation and will write on the privacy implications of behavioral tracking in digital advertising and the use of anonymity in voting systems and e-voting systems. In addition, he will explore ideas of ownership of identity – from names, fingerprints, and DNA to virtual personas.

The Information Society Project at Yale Law School is an intellectual center addressing the implications of the Internet and new information technologies for law and society, guided by the values of democracy, development, and equality. For more information about the Yale ISP, visit http://isp.yale.edu. 

Thomson Reuters is the world’s leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals, combining industry expertise with innovative technology to deliver critical information to leading decision makers in the financial, legal, tax and accounting, healthcare and science and media markets, powered by the world’s most trusted news organization. With headquarters in New York and major operations in London and Eagan, Minnesota, Thomson Reuters employs more than 55,000 people and operates in over 100 countries. Thomson Reuters shares are listed on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges (symbol: TRI). For more information, visit www.thomsonreuters.com.