Corynne McSherry

Corynne McSherry is an American attorney specializing in intellectual property law and a leading figure in the digital rights movement. She serves as the Legal Director for the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a prominent nonprofit organization dedicated to defending civil liberties in the digital world. McSherry has been instrumental in high-profile litigation and policy advocacy concerning copyright law, free speech, and innovation on the internet.

Early life and education

Corynne McSherry completed her undergraduate studies, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from the University of California, Irvine. She then pursued her legal education at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, known as Berkeley Law, where she received her Juris Doctor degree. During her time at Berkeley Law, her academic focus began to center on the evolving intersections of law, technology, and creative expression, laying the groundwork for her future career in digital rights advocacy.

Career

Before joining the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Corynne McSherry built a foundation in legal practice and scholarship focused on intellectual property. She worked as a staff attorney at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, addressing issues of social justice and equality. Her expertise in copyright and First Amendment issues led her to a role as a fellow at the Stanford Center for Internet and Society, where she engaged with cutting-edge legal research. McSherry's career path solidified with her move to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, where she initially served as a staff attorney before rising to the position of Legal Director, overseeing the organization's extensive litigation docket.

Legal advocacy and EFF work

As Legal Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Corynne McSherry has led and contributed to numerous landmark cases and initiatives. She played a key role in litigation against Lenz v. Universal Music Corp., the seminal "dancing baby" case that established important fair use protections for online video creators. McSherry has also been a central advocate in challenging abusive Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown notice practices and defending the rights of open source software developers, as seen in cases like Oracle America, Inc. v. Google LLC. Her advocacy extends to amici curiae briefs filed with the Supreme Court of the United States in critical technology cases and active engagement with policy debates at institutions like the United States Copyright Office and the World Intellectual Property Organization.

Publications and media appearances

Corynne McSherry is a frequent commentator on legal issues surrounding technology and copyright. She is the author of the book Who Owns Academic Work?: Battling for Control of Intellectual Property, published by Harvard University Press, which examines the conflicts over ownership of scholarly research. Her analyses and opinions regularly appear in major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Wired. McSherry has also been featured on broadcast programs including National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" and has spoken at conferences like SXSW and the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology's annual events.

Recognition and awards

For her impactful work in defending digital rights and free expression, Corynne McSherry has received significant recognition from within the legal and technology communities. While at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, she has been part of teams honored with awards from organizations like the American Library Association for championing intellectual freedom. Her strategic litigation and advocacy have consistently earned praise from peers in the nonprofit sector and the technology industry for safeguarding innovation and civil liberties in the digital age.

Category:American lawyers Category:Electronic Frontier Foundation people Category:21st-century American women lawyers