Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property Welcomes Charles Duan as Assistant Professor
Distinguished Harvard Law Graduate and Public Policy Advocate Joins AUWCL Faculty for Fall 2023 Semester
American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL) is pleased to welcome Charles Duan as an assistant professor for the fall 2023 semester. The Harvard Law graduate and current adjunct professor comes to the faculty following a postdoctoral fellowship appointment at Cornell Tech. He also serves as a senior policy fellow with the Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property at AUWCL.
Over the last ten years, Duan has worked in public policy, first as director of the patent reform project at Public Knowledge and then as director of technology and innovation policy at the R Street Institute. In these roles, he has written and advocated for how to shape intellectual property law in the public interest. His work has been cited by the Supreme Court, the federal courts of appeals, federal agencies, and national media. Duan also has practiced as a patent attorney at the law firm Knobbe Martens, was a research fellow at Colorado Law School, and currently serves as a member of the Patent Public Advisory Committee of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
“Patent law weaves its way into so many other areas of the law, such as environmental protection, taxation, and telecommunications,” Duan explained. “I’m looking forward to working with many new colleagues to unpack these cross-cutting questions.”
As a teacher, Duan hopes to inspire students to explore the public interest dimensions of all areas of law, including intellectual property.
“Even patent law, seemingly complex and arcane, can have tremendous effects on our everyday lives, from the cell phones in our pockets to what drugs we can access,” he said. “The world needs more lawyers who think deeply about these public effects.”
Duan received his A.B. degree in Computer Science from Harvard College, and his J.D. from Harvard Law School. His scholarly research focuses on the relationship between intellectual property laws and regulation, competition, health care, and access to justice.
“Duan will be a great asset, especially for our many students who are preparing for a career in patent law,” said Professor Christine Farley, faculty director for AUWCL's Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property. “Already, even before his official start date, he has put together a virtual speaker series on intellectual property in the public interest and organized and spoke at additional IP events here.”
Story by Tahniat Saulat.