Limited Times is a social venture founded by Tulane professors that is focused on demystifying law by making complex legal research accessible through services and code-based products. Its first product, Durationator®, is a legal research tool that provides the copyright information of work anywhere in the world.
Limited Times founders Elizabeth Townsend Gard and Ron Gard were Propeller social venture fellows in the 2013-2014 class.
Through a partnership with Propeller: A Force for Social Innovation, Limited Times will be able to launch the system. The social venture organization is providing funding for the innovative legal research tool. The Limited Times investment is the Propeller’s first the company has made through its new loan fund created in partnership with Foundation for Louisiana’s Community Investment Loan Fund.
Thomson Reuters will be the worldwide distributor of the Durationator® product as it prepares for a launch in early 2015. The company will be able to use the product to produce research reports and subscriptions aimed at lawyers.
“This partnership with Propeller is a wonderful opportunity for us to work together to support ventures that open the door of opportunity to Louisianans,” said Flozell Daniels, Jr., Foundation for Louisiana president and CEO. “Not only are we helping to support a new Louisiana-born venture; we are also supporting work that will ultimately benefit the creative artists and musicians of our state, who have for so long struggled to see the economic fruits of their creativity.”
Funding from Propeller will help secure the last needed piece before launch, a database of U.S. Copyright Office records to interact with the Durationator® copyright system. Previously, Limited Times received funding through grants from Tulane University, and indirectly through NEH and IMLS grants.
According to Propeller, Limited Times aims to release the records and the Durationator® tool to the general public as a free, public good. “The funds will allow for the first iteration of the database, and for planning of the next steps in the coming years.”