Lucy Cunningham, LLB and LLM Graduate: Bid Consultant
I currently work as a Bid Consultant (more commonly known as a Bid Writer) at a strategic work-winning consultancy, where I help clients craft work-winning bids for major public sector contracts. Alongside this, I am part of the Innovation Team, where I explore how emerging technologies can enhance our services.
What did you study at the University of Glasgow?
I graduated with a 2:1 classification in Scots Law LLB from the University of Glasgow before continuing my studies there undertaking the Intellectual Property and the Digital Economy LLM. I chose Glasgow for my masters in intellectual property law due to its renowned expertise in this area as home to the UK Centre for Regulation of the Creative Economy (CREATe). The opportunity to work on real-world legal challenges - especially through the collaborative dissertation programme - was a key factor in my decision.
What's a recent project or experience where you saw the impact of intellectual property in the digital economy?
My LLM dissertation was a key project where I explored the impact of intellectual property in the digital economy. Titled "Access to Heritage: A Comparative Analysis of Italy and the UK from a Fundamental Rights Perspective - with a Focus on Digital Reproductions of Public Domain Cultural Heritage," it examined how certain laws restrict access to digitised cultural heritage. In collaboration with Creative Commons, I engaged with the most recent research on open access and the public domain, contributing to their initiative to maintain the thriving commons of shared knowledge and culture.
In my current role as a Bid Consultant, I also see how intellectual property law intersects with procurement and innovation, particularly in shaping how businesses can use artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies to provide their services.
What drew you to the idea of a collaborative dissertation?
The collaborative dissertation was one of the most valuable experiences during my LLM. It allowed me to apply the theoretical knowledge from my coursework to a real-world legal challenge. Working with Creative Commons on this research allowed me to have a tangible effect on their global objective, enhancing the relevance and impact of my work. It was a unique opportunity to bridge academic study with practical problem-solving and policy development in the field of intellectual property.
Can you describe your dissertation project and its main objectives?
The objective of my research is to analyse the issue of restricted access to cultural heritage by current legislation, and to propose recommendations for reform to improve accessibility. By adopting a fundamental rights approach, I highlight how important it is to ensure access to cultural heritage. There has been a steady flow of research looking at the relationship between copyright law and freedom of expression.
My research, however, instead focuses on the fundamental right to cultural participation, aiming to form a new perspective on copyright law and its relationship with fundamental rights. In the research I critique certain laws which allow galleries, libraries, archives, museums and other cultural heritage institutions to restrict access to cultural heritage, even when copyright law allows for access, use, and enjoyment of them, such as those that are in the public domain. Ultimately, I argue that certain copyright provisions in the UK and EU must be reformed through the implementation of ‘copyright non-overridability provisions’ to champion access to cultural heritage and uphold fundamental rights within the copyright system in the digital age.
Aims:
- How do Italy and the UK differ in their legal approaches to digital reproductions of public domain cultural heritage?
- What role do fundamental rights play in shaping policies on access to cultural heritage?
- How can copyright laws better balance public access and protection in the digital age?
Main messages:
- Public domain works must remain in the public domain. This includes digitised reproductions of public domain cultural heritage.
- Access to cultural heritage is being jeopardised. Restrictive legal mechanisms in the UK and Italy are being used by cultural heritage institutions to override copyright principles that champion access to public domain cultural heritage.
How did the collaborative aspect of the project enhance your overall experience?
The collaboration gave me exclusive access to expert insights from Creative Commons and exposed me to ongoing initiatives tackling similar issues. A major benefit was having my research contribute to an active policy discussion. A challenge, however, was ensuring my academic research also aligned with practical applications through my policy brief. However, I gained skills in policy analysis and writing through this experience, which greatly improved my ability to bridge theoretical and practical implications.
My dissertation was chosen for the Outstanding LLM Dissertation Award by CREATe and was subsequently published as a CREATe working paper (as well as being published by my collaborative dissertation partner, Creative Commons). I also achieved the highest grades in my LLM and was awarded the Cloch Prize.
Some additional benefits are as follows:
- Enhanced practical knowledge: Engaging with real intellectual property law challenges deepened my understanding beyond theoretical learning.
- Industry connections: The collaboration allowed me to network with professionals in the field, which will undoubtedly be beneficial to me in the future.
- Skills development: Presenting ideas clearly, working collaboratively, and writing for both academic and policy-focused audiences broadened my perspective, and improved my analytical capabilities.
- Policy writing experience: Drafting a policy brief as part of my dissertation gave me policy development skills, which expanded my career options beyond legal practice.
- Increased research visibility: Contributing to a high-profile Creative Commons initiative meant my work had real-world relevance and impact.
What advice would you give to students considering a collaborative dissertation?
- Choose a topic that genuinely interests you as your collaborative dissertation will likely be published by your partner organisation.
- Engage fully with your partner organisation - take advantage of networking, events, and resources both during the dissertation writing process and after it has concluded. For example, once my LLM had concluded I was invited to present my findings to the Creative Commons Open Culture Platform, which was a unique and valuable experience.
- Think beyond academia - consider how your research can have real-world impact and influence policy making in future.