| This book examines challenges and opportunities associated with the development, distribution, and use of intellectual property and knowledge assets. For purposes of this book, intellectual property consists of the creative works that are governed by the principles of traditional intellectual property law: copyrights, patents, and trademarks. Knowledge assets consist of information, knowledge, and know-how that have commercial value but that have not traditionally been governed by intellectual property law principles of copyrights and patents. The intellectual assets that are the focus of this book include both traditional intellectual property and knowledge assets.
Strategies to manage intellectual assets are in a state of flux, largely as a result of the expansion of the Internet and associated computer networks. Wide-scale computer networking alters the process of creation, distribution, modification, and use of intellectual assets. Networking changes the supply of, and demand for, many intellectual assets. In this way, digitization of intellectual assets and integration of those assets into computer networks affect the economic value of the assets. Networks also affect the ability of developers and distributors of intellectual assets to control user access to those assets. Management of access to those assets (digital rights management) is a major challenge in the networked environment.
This book examines the most significant digital rights management challenges triggered by global computer networking, and it identifies some of the developing rights management strategies aimed at addressing those challenges. Those management strategies begin with traditional intellectual property law principles but also make use of other legal theories and economic incentives. Basic intellectual property law forms the foundation for digital rights management, supplemented by a variety of other legal concepts and commercial strategies. This book provides developers, distributors, and consumers of intellectual assets with information regarding their rights and duties as to the control and use of those assets.
This book can be most helpful for those who have a professional or personal interest in the creation, distribution, or consumption of intellectual assets. That interest may arise from a wide range of sources. It can, for example, stem from a direct interest (e.g., readers who are actual creators or users of intellectual assets, whether they are software developers, Web content creators, or online music aficionados). The interest can also arise from an indirect interest in intellectual assets (e.g., readers who are associated with “intermediaries” or are involved in the distribution of intellectual assets, such as online service providers or media enterprises). Other people who may have an indirect interest in management of intellectual assets are the people who finance the creation or use of those assets (e.g., investors, lenders). Finally, another important group of interested parties includes those involved in the development or enforcement of public policies that affect creation or use of intellectual assets (e.g., legislators, judges, and regulators). |
