One of the research themes of GRAND is to better understand the social, legal, economic and cultural aspects of New Media. 

The need for this research was highlighted recently in LEXPERT, the business magazine for Canada's lawyers. The lead story by Julius Melnizer in the April 2012 issue entitled "Advising for the Digital Revolution" addresses some practical, down to earth aspects of the emergence of New Media. 

It begins "Radically changing business models, uncertain regulatory environments, with a need for long term vision - entertainment lawyers have their work cut out for them".  It notes that many of the traditional entertainment companies have moved into the digital world and that their lawyers need to adapt to the changed business environment. 

With the convergence of telecommunications and information technology, the adaptation of old media products to the digital world and the development of competing new media products, lawyers who advised the old media players need to adapt to meet the needs of their morphing clients.  They must be aware of the CRTC and the Canadian regulatory environment in a way that was unnecessary before.  They must also learn the law related to digitization and to online marketing and distribution. 

It also means that they are competing with IT lawyers and telecom lawyers for the business of the morphing old players and the emerging new ones.  But IT lawyers and telecom lawyers also face challenges because they need to learn more about the new content and distribution methods and the developing business models. 

I have living with this new reality for some time now and it is both stimulating and challenging.  One cannot rest on one's laurels.  To have mastered the old practice norms is of some, but decreasing value.  One must keep up with the times which is a constant challenge because "the times they are a changing" - constantly.  All of this makes the work that GRAND researchers are doing ever more relevant and important.