Lyman Ray Patterson
Encyclopedia
Lyman Ray Patterson was an American
law professor and an influential copyright scholar and historian.
Patterson was born in Macon
, Georgia
. He graduated from Mercer University
, and obtained a masters degree in English from Northwestern University
. After teaching English at Middle Georgia College
, he joined the Army where he studied Russian
at the Army Language School
. During the Korean War
he served as a translator of Russian radio broadcasts. Following the Army he attended law school at Mercer University
. After practicing law for two years with the firm of Matthews, Maddox, Walton and Smith in Rome, Georgia
he returned to the Mercer Law School to teach.
During Patterson's tenure at Mercer he attended Harvard Law School
and wrote his S.J.D. dissertation on the history of copyright law
. He received the S.J.D. degree from Harvard in 1966. The dissertation became the foundation for his influential book Copyright in Historical Perspective
, published in 1968 and still in print as of 2007.
Patterson joined the faculty at Vanderbilt University Law School
in 1963, and served as an assistant United States Attorney
while teaching at Vanderbilt. In 1973 Patterson joined the faculty at the Emory University School of Law
and was that school's Dean. In 1987, he joined the University of Georgia (UGA) School of Law
faculty and remained there until his death in 2003. During his career he was a visiting professor at Georgia State University Law School
, Duke University School of Law
, and the University of Texas School of Law
.
The ALA
L. Ray Patterson Copyright Award was established in his honor. The first three winners were Kenneth Crews (2005); Prue Adler (2006); and Peter Jaszi (2007).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
law professor and an influential copyright scholar and historian.
Patterson was born in Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. He graduated from Mercer University
Mercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
, and obtained a masters degree in English from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. After teaching English at Middle Georgia College
Middle Georgia College
Middle Georgia College is a publicly supported, residential,charter unit of the University System of Georgia, in the city Cochran in the U.S. state of Georgia. Founded in 1884, the school is the oldest two-year college in the United States. It is currently being transformed into a 4 year college...
, he joined the Army where he studied Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
at the Army Language School
Defense Language Institute
The Defense Language Institute is a United States Department of Defense educational and research institution, which provides linguistic and cultural instruction to the Department of Defense, other Federal Agencies and numerous and varied other customers...
. During the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
he served as a translator of Russian radio broadcasts. Following the Army he attended law school at Mercer University
Mercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
. After practicing law for two years with the firm of Matthews, Maddox, Walton and Smith in Rome, Georgia
Rome, Georgia
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Rome is the largest city and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Floyd County...
he returned to the Mercer Law School to teach.
During Patterson's tenure at Mercer he attended Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
and wrote his S.J.D. dissertation on the history of copyright law
History of copyright law
The history of copyright law starts with early privileges and monopolies granted to printers of books. The British Statute of Anne 1709, full title "An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by vesting the Copies of Printed Books in the Authors or purchasers of such Copies, during the Times therein...
. He received the S.J.D. degree from Harvard in 1966. The dissertation became the foundation for his influential book Copyright in Historical Perspective
Copyright in Historical Perspective
nopyright in Historical Perspective is an influential work of copyright scholarship by Lyman Ray Patterson. The book traces the history of Anglo-Saxon copyright from the outgoing 15th century to the late 19th century....
, published in 1968 and still in print as of 2007.
Patterson joined the faculty at Vanderbilt University Law School
Vanderbilt University Law School
Vanderbilt University Law School is a graduate school of Vanderbilt University. Established in 1874, it is one of the oldest law schools in the southern United States. Vanderbilt Law has consistently ranked among the top 20 law schools in the nation, and is currently ranked 16th in the 2012...
in 1963, and served as an assistant United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
while teaching at Vanderbilt. In 1973 Patterson joined the faculty at the Emory University School of Law
Emory University School of Law
Emory University School of Law is a first-tier US law school that is part of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. It is ranked #30 among ABA-approved law schools by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report...
and was that school's Dean. In 1987, he joined the University of Georgia (UGA) School of Law
University of Georgia School of Law
The University of Georgia School of Law is a graduate school of the University of Georgia. Founded in 1859 and located in Athens, Georgia, USA, Georgia Law was formerly known as the Lumpkin School of Law. The Law School is the second oldest of the University's schools and colleges. The University...
faculty and remained there until his death in 2003. During his career he was a visiting professor at Georgia State University Law School
Georgia State University College of Law
The Georgia State University College of Law is an urban law school located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1982, is it accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools....
, Duke University School of Law
Duke University School of Law
The Duke University School of Law is the law school and a constituent academic unit of Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States. One of Duke's 10 schools and colleges, the School of Law began as the Trinity College School of Law in 1868. In 1924, following the renaming of Trinity...
, and the University of Texas School of Law
University of Texas School of Law
The University of Texas School of Law, also known as UT Law, is an ABA-certified American law school located on the University of Texas at Austin campus. The law school has been in operation since the founding of the University in 1883. It was one of only two schools at the University when it was...
.
The ALA
American Library Association
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
L. Ray Patterson Copyright Award was established in his honor. The first three winners were Kenneth Crews (2005); Prue Adler (2006); and Peter Jaszi (2007).
External links
- L. Ray Patterson, archived homepage at the University of Georgia School of LawUniversity of Georgia School of LawThe University of Georgia School of Law is a graduate school of the University of Georgia. Founded in 1859 and located in Athens, Georgia, USA, Georgia Law was formerly known as the Lumpkin School of Law. The Law School is the second oldest of the University's schools and colleges. The University...
- L. Ray Patterson: A Selected Copyright Bibliography, prepared by Kenneth D. Crews, American Library AssociationAmerican Library AssociationThe American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
- Users' Rights in Copyright, an interview with Ray Patterson
- L. Ray Patterson Copyright Award