Kutz Olson Law and Maurice Law
Laura is a 2013 Juris Doctor graduate from the University of Alberta. While attracted to a broad range of issues arising in Aboriginal law, Laura's primary interests are in the areas of intellectual property rights in Aboriginal cultural heritage and Aboriginal rights in water arising from treaty. As a recipient of the 2012 Roger S. Smith Student Research Award, she co-authored (with Professor Catherine Bell) the conference paper "Law, Ethics, and Respect for Indigenous Intangible Heritage in Museum Contexts" for the International Conference on Museums and Intangible Heritage in Korea (2012). She also presented at the Waterlution Conference, “Our Water is our Life”, in Thorsby, Alberta, addressing First Nation water rights in Alberta.
As owner/operator of a limited edition art publishing company, Laura has over 20 years’ experience in the art reproduction industry, with a focus on copyright in artwork, contracts concerning copyright licensing, protection of rights asserted through copyright, and marketing of artwork.
Her current interests include exploring ways in which existing intellectual property laws can be utilized to protect intangible property in cultural heritage, and considering the potential for law reform that recognizes communal interests in items of cultural heritage. Failing the ability for IP law to address the issues inherent in intangible cultural heritage, she is interested in defining processes and policy that can co-exist with existing legal structures that can contribute to the identification and protection of rights associated with cultural heritage.
