Paul Jacobson 220 connections

Web and Digital Media Lawyer, Jacobson Attorneys

Johannesburg, South Africa

I am Jacobson Attorneys' founder. I focus on Web and digital media legal issues including social media, reputation issues and content.

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Professional Summary

I started out my career as a commercial lawyer with Werksmans Incorporated and left to start my own practice, Jacobson Attorneys, in August 2005. On 1 August 2007 I launched a new media law and policy focus area in Jacobson Attorneys. This new emphasis for my work as a lawyer draws on my experience with social media to provide an innovative service to clients involved in the new media space.

I focus on the intersect between social media (I prefer the term "new media") and the law. There are four themes I find most interesting and they are content licensing (I am biased towards open content licenses like Creative Commons licenses); expression and defamation; privacy and unlawful competition. Of course general commercial law principles apply to new media implementations so I also prepare terms and conditions and a variety of policy documents for clients as well.

Contact Info

(work)

Phone

+2783 444 8260 (work mobile)

086 683 1731 (work fax)

Website

http://webtechlaw.com (work)

Address

94 Athol Street
Highlands North
Johannesburg Gauteng
2192 South Africa (work)

Work/Education

Work Experience

Wireless Application Service Providers' Association / Adjudicator (Part time)

2008 - Present

I was appointed to adjudicate complaints referred to WASPA by members of the public against WASPA members. WASPA is a volunteer industry association which represents its members in various fora and performs a governance function. One of its roles is to adjudicate complaints filed against its members which is where I play a role.

Jacobson Attorneys / Senior Partner (Web and Digital Media Lawyer)

2005 - Present

I advise my clients on general commercial issues and assist them with commercial litigation in the lower and superior courts. I also provide advice on issues pertaining to the flow of ideas and content on the Web, including copyright, alternative content licensing and managing access to and use of clients' web sites and online services.

Open Law Project / Project Lead

2007 - December 2009

The Open Law Project is an advocacy initiative that promotes the creation and development of these open law projects.

The Open Knowledge Definition Project Advisory Council / Member of the Advisory Council

2008 - August 2008

The Advisory Council was created in the Autumn of 2007 as the body formally responsible for maintaining and developing the Definitions and associated material found on this site. Its basic goal is to take forward the 'Open Definition' work for the general benefit of the open knowledge community. You can find out more information about the project at http://opendefinition.org/

iCommons Limited / General Counsel and Company Secretary

January 2008 - August 2008

I am the lead legal person for iCommons, reporting to the Executive Director and Board on a range of legal and regulatory issues affecting iCommons.

I also have an opportunity to become involved in policy matters and iCommons' ongoing activities.

iCommons / Fellow

2007 - 2008

I provided legal assistance to the iCommons team as well as support for various projects undertaken and managed by iCommons from time to time.

Werksmans Attorneys / Attorney

January 1999 - July 2005

Conduct general commercial litigation with focus on long terms insurance based litigation on behalf of large insurance companies. Render general legal advice to corporates. I was able to work relatively autonomously although, where required, I supported work being handled by directors of the firm.