01/28/09
 Hutchinson believes that "students and people . . . and musicians . . . are probably interested to know what copyrights are involved when they want to use a song somehow."
Popular lawsuits over the past few years have sparked an interest in music law including two ex-members of the rock band, The Doors, who were sued for using the band's name while touring sans drummer John Densmore and the late Jim Morrison. In another case, Avril Lavigne was sued for her popular song ''Girlfriends'', which had an uncanny resemblance to the song, ''I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend'' was released by the rock band, The Rubinoos, in 1979.
Hutchinson surmises that ""bands just sort of form a name, form a group, write songs together and they don't think about their legal rights."
Students enrolled in the music law course will learn to write contracts, and participate in simulated negotiations. According to Hutchinson, music law is getting more complex and with the increased complexity there is an increase in interest among students.
Hutchinson concludes that "it's interesting for the students. (Music) makes [the law] come alive for them. To create that enthusiasm in law, which can be fairly dry at times — it's sort of a win-win situation."
No doubt law students will realize the value of the study of music law thus prompting law schools everywhere to fine-tune their entertainment law courses or offer this specific popular elective.
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