Michael Jones

Michael E. Jones

Professor Emeritus

College
Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Department
Digital Media and Legal Studies
Phone
978-934-3494
Office
Mahoney Hall, 1st Floor
Email
Michael_Jones@uml.edu

Expertise

Leading global expert in copyright, law, AI, ethics, authorship, digital transformation

Research Interests

Michael E. Jones’s research interests span sports, media, entertainment and art law, with a particular emphasis on intellectual property, ethics, and emerging technologies. He has written extensively on copyright, trademark and publicity rights, and his recent work explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping traditional notions of authorship and creativity. From advising Olympic athletes to analyzing legal frameworks for AI-generated art, Jones brings a multidisciplinary lens to the evolving intersections of law, technology and culture. His scholarship not only addresses doctrinal legal questions but also probes the deeper human and ethical consequences of rapid digital innovation.

Education

  • MLA, Harvard University
  • JD, School of Law, University of Miami
  • MBA, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
  • BA, Economics, Denison University

Biosketch

Michael E. Jones is professor emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and a leading global expert in sports, media, entertainment and art law. Over the course of his distinguished career, Jones has served as a scholar, public official, athlete, artist and legal innovator. His research and writing focus on intellectual property, ethics, and the legal implications of emerging technologies, with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence and its impact on creativity and cultural value.

Jones has authored ten influential books and more than twenty-five peer-reviewed articles in leading legal and business journals. His early work helped establish the academic field of sports law—his textbook "Sports Law" (Simon & Schuster, 1981) was the first of its kind for sports administration students and professionals. He later expanded his scholarly contributions to include works on copyright, trademark, publicity rights and the evolving role of authorship in a digital age. His recent publications include "Art Law," 2nd ed. (Rowman & Littlefield, 2024), "Sports Law and Society," 2nd ed. (Rowman & Littlefield, 2024), and "Digital Media Law and Ethics" (Bloomsbury, 2025). His forthcoming book, "What Art Is Now: Creativity in the Age of AI" (Bloomsbury, 2025/26), examines how artificial intelligence is redefining traditional legal and philosophical frameworks of artistic expression.

In addition to his academic output, Jones has reported on sports, arts and culture for The Huffington Post, where his writing blends legal insight with cultural commentary.

Jones has taught and lectured around the world. In 2019, he was named a Fulbright-Nehru Specialist by the U.S. Department of State and taught Intellectual Property Law at Jindal Global University Law School in Sonipat, India. He previously held a distinguished appointment as Visiting Professor at the University of London and most recently spoke as external faculty at the Santa Fe Institute, where he addressed Nobel Laureates and Silicon Valley venture capitalists on the legal and ethical dimensions of AI and sports governance.

A trailblazer in sports law and governance, Jones was the inaugural chair of the International Section of the American Bar Association’s Forum Committee on Sports and Entertainment Law. Along with the late Professor Bill Weston, he co-founded the first organization dedicated to training lawyers and professionals in sports and entertainment contract negotiation—an initiative later acquired by the NFL Players Association.

Jones has long served in Olympic sports leadership. He is a former member of the Board of Directors for USA Triathlon, where he also chaired multiple committees and contributed to policy formation. On the international stage, he currently represents the United States on the World Triathlon Tribunal, a global dispute resolution panel. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, he was appointed as an appeals judge to help adjudicate high-stakes multisport disputes. He has reviewed ethical concerns as a member of the Ethics Committee for USA Diving and currently chairs the Ethics Committee for USA Shooting. His national leadership has included helping develop and implement SafeSport protocols, addressing the issue of transgender participation in sport, and working on policies related to performance-enhancing drugs.

Jones’s personal athletic achievements are equally distinguished. He qualified for the Olympic Trials in swimming, medaled at the prestigious Penn Relays as a track athlete, and won national championships in both swimming and cross-country running. Later, he became an elite triathlete, earning numerous national and international titles. He is also a recognized visual artist. For five consecutive Summer Olympic Games, Jones created the official sport of triathlon poster for the U.S. Olympic Committee. His oil paintings have been featured on PBS cooking show sets, and his artistic sensibility informs his scholarly work on authorship and creative rights.

Jones previously served as chair of the Board of Directors of Provincetown Arts magazine. His prior civic roles also include vice-chairman of the board of First Finest Company, chairman of Pelham Bank and Trust (now part of Sovereign Bank), four-term state legislator, and twenty-two years as a trial court judge.

In 2024, Jones and his wife, poet Christine Jones, co-produced the award-winning documentary "Daughter of Rubens: Nancy Ellen Craig," an official selection of the 25th Anniversary Provincetown International Film Festival. The film honors the life and work of the American painter Nancy Ellen Craig and reflects the Joneses’ enduring commitment to preserving and championing artistic legacies.

Selected Awards and Honors

  • Fulbright-Nehru Specialist (2019), Teaching - U.S. State Department
  • Outstanding Teacher (2010) - University of Massachusetts Lowell

Selected Publications

  • Jones, M. (2019). Intellectual Property Fundamentals 2nd edition (Carolina Academic Press).
  • Jones, M. (2016). Art Law (Rowman and Littlefield).
  • Jones, M. (2016). Rules of the Game: Sports Law (Rowman & Littlefield).
  • Jones, M. (2015). Copyright and the Arts. Provincetown Arts, 93.
  • Jones, M. (2015). TIMELESS: The Photography of Rowland Scherman .
  • Jones, M., Toomey, W.J., Aiken, N., Bazin, M.D. (2014). Intellectual property law fundamentals. Carolina Academic Press
  • Jones, M., Bazin , N. (2014). Intellectual Property Law Fundamentals (Carolina Academic Press).
  • Jones, M. (2014). Using Service-Learning to Teach Intellectual Property Law to art students: a collaborative museum and university partnership. International Journal of Arts & Sciences, 7(1) 227.
  • Jones, M. (1981). SportsLaw (Simon & Schuster).
  • Jones, M. (1979). Current Issues in Professional Sports (editor, UNH Press).

Selected Presentations

Professor Jones has authored more than two dozen law and business journal articles published in leading academic and professional outlets. His books reflect a sustained and evolving inquiry into the intersections of law, culture, and emerging technologies. His earlier work includes "TIMELESS: The Photography of Rowland Scherman" (co-author, Peter Randall Publishing, 2014), followed by "Intellectual Property Law Fundamentals," 2nd edition (co-author, Carolina Academic Press, 2018). His more recent publications include "Art Law" 2nd edition (Rowman & Littlefield, 2024), "Sports Law and Society," 2nd edition (Rowman & Littlefield, 2024), and "Digital Media Law and Ethics" (Bloomsbury Publications, 2025). His forthcoming book, "What Art Is Now: Creativity in the Age of AI" (Bloomsbury Publications, 2025/26), examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping our understanding of creativity, authorship, and legal frameworks in the arts.

Film and Media

In addition to his written work, Professor Jones and his wife, the poet Christine Jones, co-produced the award-winning documentary Daughter of Rubens: Nancy Ellen Craig, which appeared as an official selection in the 25th Anniversary Provincetown International Film Festival in the summer of 2024. The film explores the life and legacy of the American painter Nancy Ellen Craig and reflects the Joneses’ shared commitment to preserving and celebrating artistic voices across generations.

Selected Artistic and Professional Performances and Exhibits

  • Art - Exhibition, Competitive (U.S. Olympic Committee through IOC) - Colorado Springs, CO
  • Art - Exhibition, Invitational (PBS)