Brooks Thomas
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Brooks Thomas was an American
lawyer, and executive of Harper & Row.
Thomas joined Harper & Row in 1968.
in 1953 and received his law degree from Yale Law School
in 1956. Afterwards he served as an intelligence officer on the USS Essex
for the U.S. Navy
.
After leaving the Navy, Thomas joined Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts
, now known as Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman. After leaving Winthrop, Thomas joined Harper & Row.
over its publication of President Gerald Ford
's memoirs in a case
that challenged fair use
in copyright law. Harper & Row prevailed before the Supreme Court
.
, the educational organization that promotes self-discovery in the outdoors. He became a trustee of Outward Bound USA
in 1980, serving as its chairman from 1984 to 1987. He was a trustee of Outward Bound International from 1997 to 2003, and in 2000 he became a trustee of Outward Bound’s Expeditionary Learning Schools. Thomas was also involved with Young Audiences, a national organization that provides arts programs to schools. Additionally, Thomas was chairman of the Vail Valley Institute, which holds seminars on public issues.
Brooks Thomas died in San Diego from complication
s of a brain injury
after a fall
that he had suffered several weeks earlier. At the time, he was on his way to San Francisco to attend an Outward Bound board meeting.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer, and executive of Harper & Row.
Thomas joined Harper & Row in 1968.
Early career
Thomas graduated from YaleYALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
in 1953 and received his law degree from Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
in 1956. Afterwards he served as an intelligence officer on the USS Essex
USS Essex
USS Essex may refer to:, was a 32-gun sailing frigate launched in 1799, participated in the War of 1812, and captured in 1814**Essex Junior, was a British whaler captured by Essex and put into service until recaptured in 1814...
for the U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
After leaving the Navy, Thomas joined Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is an international, full-service law firm with strengths in the energy, financial services, real estate and technology sectors and offices located throughout the United States and the world, including key financial centers such as New York, London, Tokyo and...
, now known as Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman. After leaving Winthrop, Thomas joined Harper & Row.
Harper & Row
At Harper & Row Thomas served as vice president, CEO, president, and chief executive. During this time, Harper & Row sued The NationThe Nation
The Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States. The periodical, devoted to politics and culture, is self-described as "the flagship of the left." Founded on July 6, 1865, It is published by The Nation Company, L.P., at 33 Irving Place, New York City.The Nation...
over its publication of President Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
's memoirs in a case
Harper & Row v. Nation Enterprises
Harper & Row v. Nation Enterprises, 471 U.S. 539 , was a United States Supreme Court decision that determined that fair use is not a defense to the appropriation of work by a famous political figure simply because of the public interest in learning of that political figure's account of an historic...
that challenged fair use
Fair use
Fair use is a limitation and exception to the exclusive right granted by copyright law to the author of a creative work. In United States copyright law, fair use is a doctrine that permits limited use of copyrighted material without acquiring permission from the rights holders...
in copyright law. Harper & Row prevailed before the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
.
Later life and death
After leaving Harper & Row, Thomas devoted himself to several charities. These included Outward BoundOutward Bound
Outward Bound is an international, non-profit, independent, outdoor educationorganization with approximately 40 schools around the world and 200,000 participants per year...
, the educational organization that promotes self-discovery in the outdoors. He became a trustee of Outward Bound USA
Outward Bound USA
Outward Bound USA is the collection of outdoor education organizations in the USA which are officially registered as schools by Outward Bound International. In the U.S., more than 60,000 people participate in its programs every year...
in 1980, serving as its chairman from 1984 to 1987. He was a trustee of Outward Bound International from 1997 to 2003, and in 2000 he became a trustee of Outward Bound’s Expeditionary Learning Schools. Thomas was also involved with Young Audiences, a national organization that provides arts programs to schools. Additionally, Thomas was chairman of the Vail Valley Institute, which holds seminars on public issues.
Brooks Thomas died in San Diego from complication
Complication (medicine)
Complication, in medicine, is an unfavorable evolution of a disease, a health condition or a medical treatment. The disease can become worse in its severity or show a higher number of signs, symptoms or new pathological changes, become widespread throughout the body or affect other organ systems. A...
s of a brain injury
Brain injury
A brain injury is any injury occurring in the brain of a living organism. Brain injuries can be classified along several dimensions. Primary and secondary brain injury are ways to classify the injury processes that occur in brain injury, while focal and diffuse brain injury are ways to classify...
after a fall
Falling (accident)
Falling is a major cause of personal injury, especially for the elderly. Builders, electricians, miners, and painters represent worker categories representing high rates of fall injuries. The WHO estimate that 392,000 people die in falls every year...
that he had suffered several weeks earlier. At the time, he was on his way to San Francisco to attend an Outward Bound board meeting.