February 3, 2026

Faculty Scholarship Spotlight: Professor John Tehranian

Our inaugural “faculty spotlight” shines on Professor John Tehranian, a nationally-recognized intellectual property and constitutional law expert who has vitally contributed to Southwestern for almost fifteen years through cutting-edge scholarship and a passion for the law both in and outside the classroom. 

Professor Tehranian’s new book, The Secret Life of Copyright – in which copyright law meets BLM and #MeToo movements – epitomizes the influential and brilliant scholarship Prof. Tehranian has regularly produced throughout his academic career. With skilled prose and an ability to explain complicated subjects in an easily accessible manner (as his students can attest), his latest book is both fun and informative, accessible even to those not steeped in the intricacies of copyright law.

The Secret Life of Copyright draws on a wide array of case studies, including:  Harvard’s exploitation of slave daguerreotypes, the unlawful distribution of an intimate recording of broadcaster Erin Andrews, the infamous stand-off between the Charging Bull and Fearless Girl statues on Wall Street, the largely forgotten authorship controversy over the beloved musical Rent, and Adolf Hitler’s successful use of copyright law to stop Americans from learning about the full scope of his plans in the lead up to World War II. Through these and other poignant examples, the book strongly makes the case that our copyright regime has a social justice problem. Professor Tehranian deftly exposes how key copyright doctrines—like derivative rights and fair use, and immunity from First Amendment scrutiny—have systematically disadvantaged individuals from traditionally marginalized communities by exacerbating inequalities along racial, gender, and socioeconomic lines, while impoverishing the law’s role in promoting progress in the arts.

Learn more about Prof Tehranian.

What is the primary goal of your research and scholarship?

"Whether analyzing issues of civil rights and expressive freedoms to promote fidelity to our most cherished constitutional values or examining the ways in which our intellectual property laws might be improved to better promote creativity and protect creatives, my scholarship has always tried to link theoretical insights with on-the-ground action.  Throughout the years, some of my most rewarding professional moments have come from translating my scholarly endeavors into real world change and from learning about the ways in which my scholarship has resonated with people on both an intellectual and personal level."