Paul Jacobson

Izimvo has the great pleasure of introducing founder and senior partner of Jacobson Attorneys, Paul Jacobson.

Paul, who started out as a commercial lawyer at Werksmans, founded Jacobson Attorneys in August 2005. In August 2007, a new media law and policy focus area was added to the firm. Today, Jacobson Attorneys is a niche commercial firm focusing on the intersect between new media and the law.

Services provided by Jacobson Attorneys include content licensing, expression and defamation and privacy and unlawful competition.

Google Profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/pljcbsn
Twitter: http://twitter.com/PaulJacobson
Location: Johannesburg

Paul was kind enough to answer the following questions for us:

Personal

Q: The all important personal profile. How would a close friend introduce you at a social event? i.e. Name, age, company, interesting fact etc.

A: Hmm, ok, I am 34 and I am the founder and senior partner of Jacobson Attorneys which I started in 2005. I am married to my beautiful wife, Gina, and we have a little boy. I have been involved in social media since 2004 and I am a little obsessed with social media services (which explains why I have accounts for most of the major services).

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.

A: I am a Superman fan and if you were to ask me who my hero is, it would be the Man of Steel. Despite being a fictional character and a virtually invulnerable alien from another planet, he represents the best humanity has to offer.

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?

A: Get away from it all? Is that possible? When I do get some downtime locally I usually find myself at a movie, parked off at my favourite Seattle or Vida or at a local park with a book and my iPod. When we get a chance to get out-of-town we head to the Drakensberg and one of our favourite spots is a bakery called Valley Bakery. My wife and I once spent the greater part of a day there with our books and a constant supply of confectionery and tea.

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South African would you like it to be?

A: I used to think my favourite spot would be someone around Plett although perhaps not on the beach but rather up in the hills. I would love to have a cabin in the mountains (probably the Drakensberg) somewhere but I would need it to be well furnished, have all the appliances essential for modern living and a really fat broadband pipe! Love the mountains but I enjoy my luxuries.

This question was proudly sponsored by Private Property

New Media Law in South Africa

Q: Your law firm’s slogan is “Legal solutions for innovators and smart people”. Can you tell us about the services your new media law firm provides?

A: We offer a range of commercial services but my focus is on the intersect between the social Web and the law. I advise clients on how best to structure their social media campaigns, deal with some of the risks that arise out of their engagement with the social Web and develop some pretty interesting frameworks for their even more innovative online initiatives. It is a very new and exciting space and it really takes an appreciation for and understanding of social media to practice in this space.

Q: What general advice would you offer to individuals or companies with an online presence wanting to protect their intellectual property?

A: Don’t underestimate the risks or the need to take precautions to protect your IP. It can be your business’ very life force and neglecting it can be devastating. Make sure you understand what you want to achieve with your IP and take reasonable steps to protect it. Get your IP protection framework in place now and you could save yourself a lot of headaches later.

Q: What are some of the more interesting cases that your firm has handled?

A: I can’t really discuss our cases in much detail because of the confidentiality that attaches to our work but we have developed legal frameworks for cutting edge online campaigns, advised large corporates on social media issues impacting on their online presence and structured a variety of projects and collaborations both online and offline.

Q: Do you feel that enough is being done to ensure that our legal systems keep up with the rapid changes in new media?

A: No, not really. Part of the issue is that social media requires lawyers to think differently about the challenges they face and most lawyers can’t get their heads around this social media ethos. The law itself is based on a pre-social Web era and while the law I apply pre-dates social media and works reasonably well, a number of aspects of the law are totally out of touch with the way people are sharing their content, engaging with each other online and generally conducting their businesses and personal lives in a more connected and social environment.

Q: What advice would you offer bloggers and Internet personalities regarding sponsorship and pay-per-post?

A: Disclose sponsorships and payments you receive for your publications. That isn’t to say you can’t promote a service you are being paid to promote but make sure your readers and followers can distinguish between paid promotions and the products/services you promote because you are a fan.

Life in South Africa

Q: Have you or any of your immediate family been affected by crime? If yes, has it changed your perception of the country and the way you and your family live your lives?

A: Yes, we’ve been robbed a couple times in the past. Our neighbours have been hijacked and we all now someone who has experienced worse. The crime and apparent lack of regard for human life scares me and I have certainly considered moving but when I look abroad I see countries that have historically been safer and which are now experiencing higher crime rates than us. It is very unfortunate because the crime in SA affects how my son and future children will grow up and it isn’t the relative freedom I experienced growing up as a child.

Q: Have you ever considered emigration? If yes, where do you think you would emigrate to?

A: I have considered emigration and countries we have considered include Australia (when you have family there, it is always an option) and Israel.

Q: Given the opportunity, which governmental department would you select to run and what would be your first changes?

A: The Department of Communications and I would take definite steps to open up the local communications industry. I strongly believe that meaningful access to broadband should be a right alongside access to water and housing and it is essential for SA’s development in the 21st century.

Q: To which three attractions would you first take an international visitor?

A: Newtown in Joburg, the Constitutional Court.

Q: South Africa’s greatest export is?

A: Mark Shuttleworth tied with Charlize Theron …

Life in Johannesburg

Q: What are some of your favorite spots in or around Johannesburg for day trips with your family?

A: We tend to visit coffee shops that are toddler friendly and these usually include garden shops like the Garden Shop just off Jan Smuts Avenue in Rosebank.

Q: As a father, which kid friendly restaurant is the most adult friendly?

A: I haven’t come across a restaurant that is all that kid friendly actually although I’ve probably been looking in the wrong areas.

Q: What are the must-see attractions for visitors to Johannesburg during next year’s Soccer World Cup?

A: I’d go with Newtown for the cultural experience for starters. The Constitutional Court precinct is a great spot to get a sense of our new constitutional values.

General

Q: Who is your favorite fictional lawyer?

A: Probably Alan Shore from Boston Legal. He is principled, passionate and not afraid to take on the tough cases where there is a good cause to be championed.

Q: If you were able to pick anyone as your mentor, who would it be and why?

A: Ah, there are a couple people actually. Locally I’d pick Rich Mulholland and Justin Spratt. They are both really smart, perceptive and walk their own path. Internationally, people like Kevin Marks, Doc Searls, Simon Phipps, Joi Ito and Lawrence Lessig are inspirations and I could learn a fortune from them.

Q: One book that you would make required reading for all matric pupils?

A: The Cluetrain Manifesto

Q: Favorite South African band?

Q: Prime Circle at the moment.

Q: Who would you most like to read about on Izimvo?

A: Justin Spratt.

We’d like to thank Paul for taking the time to answer our questions and wish him every success for the future.

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