Matthew Goldberg Wins 2004
CLA Essay Competition

This summer, Lewis & Clark Law School student Matthew Goldberg received first prize in the Computer Law Association’s 2004 technology writing competition.

Goldberg’s essay, Message in a Bottleneck: The Need for FCC-Mandated Interoperability Among Instant Messaging Providers, addresses the need for software compatibility between instant messaging (IM) providers such as Yahoo and AOL. IM applications allow users to instantly communicate through a text editor. By advocating the interoperability of these applications, Matt hopes to spur innovation in this technology and make communication easier for millions of IM users. He hopes to pursue a career in business law information technology practice after graduation.

If you are a student and would like to enter a writing competition, visit our Law Student Writing Competitions page. Goldberg’s essay will be considered for publication in the Marquette Intellectual Property Law Review and other CLA publications.

A short Interview with Matthew Goldberg

What is the thesis of your paper?

The basic idea of the paper is that the FCC should assert its jurisdiction over communication technologies to require instant messaging providers like AOL and Yahoo to make their IM networks interoperable. Currently, users of one system cannot communicate with users of another system. Making them interoperable would likely spur further innovation of IM as a communications platform. The balkanized state of today’s IM landscape frustrates that effort..

Are Information Technology and Internet legal issues something you want to pursue as a career after Lewis & Clark?

While I am looking at a variety of business-oriented practice areas to pursue following school, it would be nice if I could at least occasionally deal with technology- and Internet-related issues.

How did you choose your subject matter within these diverse areas?

In my pre-law-school days as a journalist, I had written a magazine article that touched on some of the business (as opposed to legal) issues surrounding the current state of the IM business. When it came time to think of a paper topic for the Marquette Intellectual Property Law Review , this was one of the ideas I had on my list.

Where did you gather the relevant information for your paper. The Boley Law Library? Online resources? Interviews?

Perhaps not surprisingly, most of my research was online.

What suggestions do you have for your fellow students who want to write a successful paper for competition?

I don't have lots of competition-specific advice, but I will say that the secret to writing a successful law review article is to start early and to consider as many ideas as possible in the early stages. I was surprised at how many hours I spent in the beginning researching potential topics, almost all of which turned out not to work for one reason or another.