Intellectual Property in the Age of the Internet

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Intellectual Property in the Age of the Internet When Tim Berners-Lee created the Internet as a non-proprietor, not-for-profit information conduit, he could not have predicted how controversial digitized intellectual property would become. Prior to the Internet, intellectual property was a fairly straightforward issue. It was protected with copyright, trademark, and patent legislations, which granted exclusive rights to owners. Violations were not as abundant because distribution was constrained by time and space. Moreover, violators were identifiable because anonymity was difficult to achieve. In today's "global village" however, digital information such as books, music, software and art can be instantly shared between two anonymous users, without any fee to the creator. Legislation is much more difficult to enforce. The Internet has most publicly impacted Copyright legislation and thus this essay will focus on it specifically. Copyrights are ìoriginal works of authorship in any tangible medium of expression, Öfrom which the work can be perceived, reproduced or otherwise communicated, either directly or withÖ aidî (Bird, p.86). Not only has its existence and understanding been heightened by the general public, but violations against it have ìincreased on the Internet as far as its use and what is being used.î (Medieval Romance, p.1) ìNever before has it been so easy to violate a copyright ownerís exclusive right to copy.î (Bird, p.86) The Internet has increased piracy, it has changed legislation for both creators and infringers, it is been the precursor for harsher punishments to violators, and it has clouded jurisdiction principles. Copyright infringements over the Internet increased expon... ... middle of paper ... ...ct of 2004. Online at http://thomas.loc.gov Referenced on November 21st, 2004 International Intellectual Property Alliance (2004) Issues. Online at http://iipa.com Referenced on November 14th, 2004 Ketola (2004) The Old Napster case not dismissed. Online at http://www.afterdown.com Referenced on November 20th, 2004 Key Internet Cases (2002) Significant Internet Jurisdiction Cases. Online at http://www.unc.edu Referecned on November 22nd, 2004 Quinn, Gene (2004) IPWatchdog-Cases of Interest. Online at http://www.ipwatchdog.com Referenced on November 14th, 2004 Medieval Romance (2003) Terms, Copyright, Web Laws. Online at http://romancingmedieval.homestead.com Referenced on November 22nd, 2004 UCLA Online Institute for Cyperspace Law and Policy (2001) A& M Records v. Napster Online at http://www.gseis.ucla.edu Referenced on November 20th, 2004

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