Tulane Law Welcomes Professor Brian Frye to the Faculty

Tulane University Law School has appointed Brian L. Frye, a nationally recognized scholar of intellectual property and art law, as a full professor of law, Dean Marcilynn Burke announced. 

Frye joins Tulane from the University of Kentucky Rosenberg College of Law, where he has been a professor since 2012. This appointment marks a homecoming, as Frye previously served as a visiting professor at Tulane Law, among other institutions. 

Frye is a leading voice in intellectual property and art law, examining the intersections of creativity, ownership, and the systems that shape artistic expression. He is a prolific and scholar having published more than 100 academic articles, many of which have appeared in leading law reviews, including the Fordham Intellectual Property, Media & Entertainment Law Journal, the Columbia Journal of Law & the Arts, the Harvard Journal of Sports & Entertainment Law, and flagship journals such as the Iowa Law Review and Cardozo Law Review.

 Frye is also an artist. He produced the documentary Our Nixon (2013), which aired on CNN and screened in theaters nationwide. In addition, he hosts Ipse Dixit, a long-running podcast on legal scholarship that has released more than 800 episodes since its launch. 

At Kentucky, Frye taught courses in intellectual property, copyright, art law and civil procedure, and was widely regarded for his creative and interdisciplinary approach to teaching. He also served as faculty director of the law school’s Intellectual Property Program. His work often challenges traditional ideas of originality and intellectual property and has been cited in national media and academic discourse alike. 

Frye has held visiting appointments at numerous law schools, including Tulane, Boston University, Florida State University, and Hofstra University, and his work has been featured at conferences around the world.  

At Tulane, Frye will teach courses in intellectual property, art law and related subjects, continuing his exploration of how legal systems shape creative and cultural expression. 

“Brian Frye brings an extraordinary mix of scholarship, creativity and intellectual curiosity,” said Dean Burke. “His work bridges art, technology and the law in ways that resonate deeply with Tulane’s tradition of innovation and interdisciplinary inquiry.” 

Frye earned his law degree from New York University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Before entering academia, he practiced law in New York and clerked for Judge Andrew J. Kleinfeld on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.