Top Screen Copper Strip/Tape?

I replaced both screens on my DS Lite because they had yellowed and noticed the replacement top screen didn't have something the original had. Circled in the picture below (of the original screens), it looks like a copper strip or copper tape that's soldered to the ribbon. What is this and is it needed?

My DS Lite won't turn on after replacing the screens but I'm confident it's a blown fuse due to not covering the back of the bottom screen with electrical tape first. But it's also possible this mystery copper could be related since I don't know what it is, so I'd like to focus on that.