The Centre for Innovation Law & Policy
Presents Guest Speaker
Giorgio Resta
Associate Professor of Comparative Law,
Faculty of Law, University of Bari, Italy
Topic: Commodification of Personality Rights as a Legal Problem:
A Critical Introduction to the European Approach<B >
Date: Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Time: 12.30- 2.00 pm
Place: SOLARIUM
Much has been written on the issue of commodification, especially from a sociological, philosophical and economic perspective. Less frequent are comprehensive legal analysis of this topic, which is a key point for any discussion about the features of modern liberal democracies. For this presentation, Professor Resta will pick-up some cases decided by the European Court of Justice and by the national Courts of some Member States, in order to highlight the regulatory model adopted in Europe as regards commercialization of personality interests (data privacy, bodily integrity, personal 'identity'). In particular, he will reflect upon the increasing recourse to the principle of respect of human dignity as a 'new' limit on freedom of contract. Taking also into account the European Charter of Fundamental Rights and the
Strasbourg case-law, he will try to show the historical background of such an approach and to assess its advantages and risks in a multi-cultural society. Liberty vs. Dignity?<I > <P >
Giorgio Restais an Associate Professor of Private Comparative Law at the University of Bari, Italy, where he teaches courses on comparative law, contracts and intellectual property. He is author of three books and numerous articles on privacy, fundamental rights, contracts and torts in comparative perspective. He has received scholarships from several national and international institutions, including the Canadian Government, the Max-Planck-Institut and the Italian Research Council. He has been visiting scholar in theYaleLawSchool, theMcGillLawSchool, theDukeLawSchool, the Ludwig-Maximilians Universität (Munich), the Max-Planck-Institut für Internationales und Ausländisches Privatrecht (Hamburg). In 1995 he graduated with magna cum laude from theUniversityofRome"La Sapienza". In 1999 he received his PHD in Private Law from theUniversityofPisa. He is member of the Italian bar and currently serves as a member of the Scientific Board of a Legislative Committee for the Reform of the Third Book of the Italian Civil Code.
Further information: centre.ilp@utoronto.ca or 416-978-3724, www.innovationlaw.org
Supported by the Microsoft Program in Law and the Information Society
