J.D. Program
Why Study at Vanderbilt Law? Our personalized approach, customizable curriculum, and national reach help graduates find success wherever they go. Small by Design At Vanderbilt University Law School, we intentionally keep our student body small to enrich the learning experience....
Algorithmic regulation and the rule of law
In this brief contribution, I distinguish between code-driven and data-driven regulation as novel instantiations of legal regulation. Before moving deeper into data-driven regulation, I explain the difference between law and regulation, and the relevance of such a difference for the...
IP’s Pluralism Puzzle
Introduction At the core of intellectual property (IP) law lies a fundamental question of political philosophy: Can any argument justify the state’s grant of private property rights in intangibles?[1] To this question, scholars have responded that IP rights can be...
Teaching fairness to artificial intelligence: Existing and novel strategies against algorithmic discrimination under EU law
Empirical evidence is mounting that artificial intelligence applications threaten to discriminate against legally protected groups. This raises intricate questions for EU law. The existing categories of EU anti-discrimination law do not provide an easy fit for algorithmic decision making. Furthermore,...
Algorithmic Government: Automating Public Services and Supporting Civil Servants in using Data Science Technologies
The data science technologies of artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), big data and behavioral/predictive analytics, and blockchain are poised to revolutionize government and create a new generation of GovTech start-ups. The impact from the ‘smartification’ of public services...
AI Governance by Human Rights-Centred Design, Deliberation and Oversight: An End to Ethics Washing
Natural Language Processing for Legal Texts
Almost all law is expressed in natural language; therefore, natural language processing (NLP) is a key component of understanding and predicting law. Natural language processing converts unstructured text into a formal representation that computers can understand and analyze. This technology...
Rethinking copyright exceptions in the era of generative AI: Balancing innovation and intellectual property protection
AbstractGenerative artificial intelligence (AI) systems, together with text and data mining (TDM), introduce complex challenges at the junction of data utilization and copyright laws. The inherent reliance of AI on large quantities of data, often encompassing copyrighted materials, results in...
The risks of machine learning models in judicial decision making
Machine learning models, as tools of artificial intelligence, have an increasingly strong potential to become an integral part of judicial decision-making. However, the technical limitations of AI systems—often overlooked by legal scholarship—raise fundamental questions, particularly regarding the preservation of the...
Academics
Vanderbilt University is a globally renowned center for scholarly research, informed and creative teaching, and service to the community and society at large. The Vanderbilt community is committed to the highest academic standards, a spirit of intellectual freedom and a...
Artificial Intelligence and Copyright: Issues and Challenges
The increasing role of Artificial Intelligence in the area of medical science, transportation, aviation, space, education, entertainment (music, art, games, and films), industry, and many other sectors has transformed our day to day lives. The area of Intellectual Property Rights...
Natural Language, Legal Hurdles: Navigating the Complexities in Natural Language Processing Development and Application
This article delves into the legal challenges faced in developing and deploying Natural Language Processing (NLP) technologies, focusing particularly on the European Union’s legal framework, especially the DSM Directive, the InfoSoc Directive, and the Artificial Intelligence Act. It addresses the...
Anchored in Impact
Quick Guide Prospective Undergrads Prospective Grad & Professional Current Students Faculty & Staff Job Seekers Alumni & Friends Undergraduate Admissions Financial Aid & Scholarships Academics Find Your Major Schools & Colleges Student Life Plan a Visit Undergraduate Research Athletics -...
Patents’ “Self-Consistency” Question: Diversion and Blocking Under a Patent-Racing Model
Introduction The United States patent system is commonly justified by its provision of economic incentives for innovation.[1] But this justification comes with constant concern that the social benefits of innovation that the patent system stimulates might not outweigh the sum...
GeM software package for computation of symmetries and conservation laws of differential equations
Governing artificial intelligence: ethical, legal and technical opportunities and challenges
This paper is the introduction to the special issue entitled: ‘Governing artificial intelligence: ethical, legal and technical opportunities and challenges'. Artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly permeates every aspect of our society, from the critical, like urban infrastructure, law enforcement, banking, healthcare...
A hybrid CNN + BILSTM deep learning-based DSS for efficient prediction of judicial case decisions
Approaches to Protecting Intellectual Property Rights in Open-Source Software and AI-Generated Products, Including Copyright Protection in AI Training.
China’s regulatory approaches to open-source resources and software deserve special attention due to the widespread global use of Chinese-developed solutions. China’s activity in the open-source software sector surged in 2020, laying the foundation for the type of innovations seen today....
Bias in Black Boxes: A Framework for Auditing Algorithmic Fairness in Financial Lending Models
This study presents a comprehensive and practical framework for auditing algorithmic fairness in financial lending models, addressing the urgent concern of bias in machine-learning systems that increasingly influence credit decisions. As financial institutions shift toward automated underwriting and risk scoring,...
Ethical Considerations and Fundamental Principles of Large Language Models in Medical Education: Viewpoint
This viewpoint article first explores the ethical challenges associated with the future application of large language models (LLMs) in the context of medical education. These challenges include not only ethical concerns related to the development of LLMs, such as artificial...
A general approach for predicting the behavior of the Supreme Court of the United States
Building on developments in machine learning and prior work in the science of judicial prediction, we construct a model designed to predict the behavior of the Supreme Court of the United States in a generalized, out-of-sample context. To do so,...
Authorship in artificial intelligence‐generated works: Exploring originality in text prompts and artificial intelligence outputs through philosophical foundations of copyright and collage protection
Abstract The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) and its generative capabilities have propelled innovation across various industries, yet they have also sparked intricate legal debates, particularly in the realm of copyright law. Generative AI systems, capable of producing original content...
Prediction, persuasion, and the jurisprudence of behaviourism
There is a growing literature critiquing the unreflective application of big data, predictive analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine-learning techniques to social problems. Such methods may reflect biases rather than reasoned decision making. They also may leave those affected by automated...
Algorithmic bias, data ethics, and governance: Ensuring fairness, transparency and compliance in AI-powered business analytics applications
The widespread adoption of AI-powered business analytics applications has revolutionized decision-making, yet it has also introduced significant challenges related to algorithmic bias, data ethics, and governance. As organizations increasingly rely on machine learning and big data analytics for customer profiling,...
Bias Preservation in Machine Learning: The Legality of Fairness Metrics Under EU Non-Discrimination Law
Per Se Non-Takings
Introduction Contestation over methodology remains an enduring friction point in the discourse on the Takings Clause. For decades, the Supreme Court’s takings jurisprudence has vacillated between categorical, per se reasoning and contextual, ad hoc inquiries into what fairness and justice...
Career Services for Employers
2026 Winter Mingle January 28th, 2026 at the Music City Center in Nashville, TNThis year’s Winter Mingle will take a slightly different approach, bringing together all VLS students for the event. It’s an excellent opportunity to connect with students and...