Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

PDF

Selected Works

Arts and Literature

SelectedWorks

Deven R. Desai

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Property, Persona, And Publicity, Deven R. Desai Sep 2007

Property, Persona, And Publicity, Deven R. Desai

Deven R. Desai

This article focuses on a paradox latent within the nature of creative phenomenon: although one can find strong arguments for control over intangible creations during one’s life, these arguments falter if not fail after the creator dies. Two interconnected problems posed by the growth of online creation illustrate the problem. First, unlike analog creations, important digital creations such as emails are mediated and controlled by second parties. Thus although these creations are core intellectual property, they are not treated as such and service providers terminate or deny access to people’s property all the time. In addition, when one dies, some …


Property, Persona, And Publicity, Deven R. Desai Aug 2007

Property, Persona, And Publicity, Deven R. Desai

Deven R. Desai

This article focuses on two interconnected problems posed by the growth of online creation. First, unlike analog creations, important digital creations such as emails are mediated and controlled by second parties. Thus although these creations are core intellectual property, they are not treated as such and service providers terminate or deny access to people’s property all the time. In addition, when one dies, some service providers refuse to grant heirs access to this property. The uneven and unclear management of these creations means that historians and society in general will lose access to perhaps the greatest chronicling of human experience …