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UIC Review of Intellectual Property Law

Authors

Ingrida Latoza

Abstract

The United States is comprised of many different cultural communities, each rich with expressions of language and custom. Cultural diversity promotes respect among individuals and harmonizes differences between communities—nationally and globally. Through the preservation of cultural heritage, diversity is maintained. Since World War II, with the exile of many from Lithuania, members of the Lithuanian-American community have strived to maintain the cultural heritage of their beloved homeland. After several decades, a Lithuanian-American cultural identity has developed, creating unique and individual traditions, adding to the cultural heritage of the United States as a whole. Most of the international community has adopted the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, but the United States relies on intellectual property laws, particularly the Copyright Act, to preserve cultural heritage. This comment explores the preservation of Lithuanian-American cultural heritage through the protection of copyright law with a modified standard for preserving and protecting intangible cultural heritage.

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