Dr. Blakely's research centres on intellectual property law, intangible cultural heritage, and digitisation, through an interdisciplinary lens.  Her current research involves copyright and culture in virtual worlds.  Dr. Blakely's forthcoming book, How Technology and Copyright Law Shape Culture: The Tangification of Intangible Cultural Heritage, will be published in 2024.  She also serves as the Director for the Centre for Law and Society.

She completed her PhD research at University of Glasgow School of Law on Intellectual Property and Intangible Cultural Heritage in Celtic-Derived Countries, under an AHRC fully funded scholarship. She received her JD, cum laude, from University of California, Hastings College of the Law (Intellectual Property); LLM, merit, from University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies (Law, Development, and Governance); and ALB, cum laude, from Harvard University (Extension Studies: Psychology and Legal Studies). Dr. Blakely's previous professional legal training includes positions with NBC-Universal in Partnerships, Licensing & Digital as well as at the USC Institute for Innovation in Research Dev. & Technology Transfer. She was a 2018-19 Insitute for Social Futures Fellow.

Intellectual property law, cultural heritage law, technology policy