Intellectual Property Law Commons^™

Copyright On The Www: Linking And Liability, Edward A. Cavazos, Coe F. Miles

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

The World Wide Web (WWW) is so often used as a way of interacting with the Internet that many people mistakenly confuse the two, referring to the Internet as the "Web" and vice versa. Of course, the Internet and its native applications predate the development of the WWW protocols by decades. Still, given the overwhelming amount of available Internet bandwidth now devoted to the transmission of web pages, there is no doubt that the WWW is the interface of choice for most users of the world's most pervasive computer network. The WWW is not the Internet, but there can be …

Religious Technology Center V. Netcom On-Line Communications Services, Inc.: The Knowledge Standard For Contributory Copyright Infringement And The Fair Use Doctrine, Eugene A. Burcher, Anna M. Hughes

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

With 30 million people connected worldwide and the ability to rapidly transfer large amounts of data, the Internet poses a great threat to owners of intellectual property. The Internet's rapid growth has led to substantial speculation about how courts will apply intellectual property law concepts to conduct in cyberspace. On November 21, 1995, U.S. District Judge Ronald Whyte ruled that an Internet Service Provider (ISP) could be liable for contributory copyright infringement when a subscribing member directly infringes a copyright.

Expanding The Doctrines Of Vicarious And Contributory Copyright Infringement: Fonovisa, Inc. V. Cherry Auction, Inc. Targets The Primary Distribution Channels For Counterfeit Merchandise, Angela R. Dean

Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal (1994 - )

No abstract provided.

Fixation On Fixation: Why Imposing Old Copyright Law On New Technology Will Not Work, Douglas J. Mason

Indiana Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Copyright Law And Electronic Access To Information, Jessica D. Litman

Articles

At the same time as we have been discovering the Internet’s enormous potential to enhance access to information and revolutionize the ways libraries do business, the Internet’s high profile in popular media has made it the focus of a wide spectrum of fears about the future. This paper focuses on pending proposals to amend copyright law to enhance the control copyright owners wield over the appearance of their works on digital networks. These proposals would stifle libraries’ use of the Internet. Libraries and their supporters must participate in the copyright debate, and think creatively about new models for copyright. The …

Commercial Transactions On The Global Information Infrastructure: A European Perspective, 14 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 269 (1996), Christopher Millard, Robert Carolina

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

In an attempt to facilitate a single European marketplace, EU directives tried to amend its laws and regulations to accommodate the ever-advancing technology of the Internet. In tackling the issues, the authors discuss different layers of the Internet as laying the foundation for further analysis. Digital data networks are virtual networks; they are composed of a series of unrelated networks with each potentially owned and operated by different person. While the physical layers of such networks are important, the focus of this article is on the data layer: the layer that packages the data in a very efficient manner. This …

Patent Reexamination And The Pto: Compton's Patent Invalidated At The Commissioner's Request, 14 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 379 (1996), Terri Suzette Hughes

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

In 1985, two executives at Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. introduced the idea of a multimedia search system that interfaxed textual and graphical entry paths in a single database. At that time, Encyclopedia Britannica was not interested in publishing its own volumes of encyclopedias in an electronic format. Instead, they decided to make Compton’s Encyclopedia the basis of the proposed multimedia encyclopedia. On August 31, 1993, the PTO issued U.S. patent 5,241,671 for a multimedia search system to fourteen inventors who had previously assigned all their patent rights of the claimed invention to Encyclopedia Britannica. Questions arose about the validity of the …

Software Protection Against Third Parties In Belgium, 14 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 661 (1996), Philipe Péters, Florence Verhoestraete

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

On June 30, 1994, Belgium became the first nation in Europe that incorporated Directive 91/250/EEC into a specific law, the "Software Act." Unlike many other countries that deal with copyright issues involving software, Belgium enacted the Software Act to satisfy the practical and specific need to protect software. In this introductory article on Belgium’s protection of software, the author discusses the main provisions of the Software Act while making reference to the Copyright Act since computer programs are also protectable through patent, trademark or unfair competition laws. In furthering its commitment under the Berne Convention, Belgium enacted the Software Act …

Intellectual Property Protection Of Software In Canada, 14 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 673 (1996), A. David Morrow, P. Bradley Limpert

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

In Canada, the Criminal Code and the Copyright Act explicitly protect computer software programs while existing patent, trademark/trade secret and fiduciary duty laws also extent their protection to computer software. In this article, the author gives an overview of computer software protection under Canadian laws and analyzes courts’ applications of these laws to software by examining several caselaws. Computer software may be protected as trade secrets and thus may be part of a contractual agreement between parties. In the absence of an explicit agreement, Canadian laws imposes an implied non-disclosure duty on employees concerning trade secrets acquired in the scope …

The Protection Of Computer Software In The People's Republic Of China: Current Law & Case Developments In The "One-Copy" Country, 14 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 695 (1996), Geoffrey T. Willard

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

Since late 1970s, the Chinese economy has grown tremendously. Meanwhile, its intellectual property has also improved as a consequence of foreign pressures on the so-called “one-copy” country. China protects computer software under its copyright law, but the protection contains numerous loopholes which render its broad purpose meaningless. While the Act protects software in general, specific aspects of that protection are treated separately. The Act also creates exceptions and uses ambiguous terms to give the government leeway to reap fruits of software engineers without compensating it. In analyzing litigated software infringement cases, the author, though praising the impact of the decisions, …

Intellectual Property Protection Of Software In Ireland, 14 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 717 (1996), Francis Hackett

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

There are over eight thousand people in Ireland employed in the software industry by several multinational corporations, including Microsoft, Novell, Lotus and Corel. Although there has not yet been much Irish case law addressing the protection of computer software, there are adequate statutory protections in place. The Directive on the Legal Protection of Computer Programs (“Regulations”) provides copyright protection for all original computer programs. Ideas and underlying principles are not protected by copyright under the Regulations but the English High Court has clarified this general rule by stating detailed ideas may be copyrighted. The Regulations provide some exclusive rights to …

Computer Software Protection In The Netherlands, 14 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 725 (1996), Jaap H. Spoor

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

This article provides an overview of the laws currently in use for the protection of the intellectual property of software in the Netherlands. The analysis focuses primarily on all aspects of copyright law, which include sources of copyright law, protectable subject matter, ownership and transfer of copyright and licensing, economic rights and user's prerogatives, moral rights, copyright infringement in computer software and remedies for infringement. The article also briefly discusses other methods of protection for the intellectual property of computer software in the Netherlands, including patents, trade secrets, semiconductor chip protection and trademarks.

Software Protection In The Commonwealth Of Puerto Rico, 14 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 745 (1996), Diego A. Ramos

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

This article begins by examining the unique political circumstances of Puerto Rico, as a territory of the United States. It then explains the different federal and national systems that govern patent and copyright protection in Puerto Rico. The article details the conflict between the two systems and outlines the way the federal laws of the United States take precedent over the local laws of Puerto Rico in the areas of copyright and trademark. It analyzes the laws of Puerto Rico which provide protection for "moral rights" in the European tradition, which the United States does not recognize. The article also …

Intellectual Property Protection For Software In Spain, 14 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 767 (1996), Hugo Ecija

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

The author provides a brief overview of Spain’s intellectual property protection of software. The author discusses Act 22/87 which is the foundation of copyright law in Spain and regulates all kinds of works; literary, artistic, and scientific. In Spain, copyright laws protect computer programs as literary works. The broad definition of a "computer program" includes the object code as well as the source code, operating system programs, the microcode within the central processing unit, and the programming language and interface. As a member of the European Community (EC), Spain enacted "Directive 91/250" for legal protection of computer programs. The author …

The Protection Of Information Technology In A Culturally Diverse Marketplace, 15 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. Law 129 (1996), Doris E. Long

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

As we approach the year 2001, one of the critical issues facing the international community is the level and scope of protection to be afforded technology and technology based products. Technology and property laws share a unique relationship. Intellectual property laws serve as a potential source for technology protection. Technology if subject to protection is generally protectable under a country's patent or copyright for compact disc recordings. In addition to the forms of intellectual property, many nations also provide protection for the "rights neighboring" to traditional intellectual property rights. The absence of a uniform definition for traditional forms of intellectual …

Copying To Compete: The Tension Between Copyright Protection & Antitrust Policy In Recent Non-Literal Computer Program Copyright Infringement Cases, 15 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 171 (1996), Mark L. Gordon

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

A conflict exists between copyright law and antitrust policy. The conflict arises because pursuant to the Copyright Act, a copyright owner basically has a monopoly on the work's circulation throughout the market. Copyright protection benefits the owner and the public. Antitrust laws have the same goals. However, the antitrust laws balance these goals with competition in the market. Furthermore, computer programs complicate matters because the programs create a different problem than with other types of works. The Copyright Act states that "expression" is copyrightable and "ideas" are not. Computer programs, however, combine expression and ideas. Three types of copying are …

Cybermarks: A Proposed Hierarchical Modeling System Of Registration And Internet Architecture For Domain Names, 29 J. Marshall L. Rev. 623 (1996), G. Andrew Barger

UIC Law Review

No abstract provided.

Letter From The Editor, Richard P. Klau

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

What a year! While it has only been ten months since we published our first issue, the progress made in the electronic publication of legal information has been incredible. When we published in April of 1995, many wondered whether or not we would have much company in cyberspace. There were those who scoffed at our efforts, saying that using the Internet as a publication medium was little more than a gimmick.

A Right To Read Anonymously: A Closer Look At "Copyright Management" In Cyberspace, Julie E. Cohen

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

It has become commonplace to say that we have entered the age of information. The words conjure up images of a reader’s paradise—an era of limitless access to information resources and unlimited interpersonal communication. In truth, however, the new information age is turning out to be as much an age of information about readers as an age of information for readers. The same technologies that have made vast amounts of information accessible in digital form are enabling information providers to amass an unprecedented wealth of data about who their customers are and what they like to read. In the new …

Property (And Copyright) In Cyberspace, I. Trotter Hardy

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Welcoming Remarks And Statement Of The Issues, Fred H. Cate

Federal Communications Law Journal

The creation, manipulation, transmission, storage, and use of information constitute the United States' and the world's largest economic sector, affecting almost every aspect of business, education, government, and entertainment. The convener of From Conduit to Content: The Emergence of Information Policy and Law introduces The Annenberg Washington Program forum by noting the proliferation of information technologies and services, the diversity of industries and interests affected, and the number of government entities with jurisdiction, that contribute to both the complexity and the importance of information policy making.

From Conduit to Content: The Emergence of Information Policy and Law. The Annenberg Washington …

Panel Two: Information Policy Making, Allen S. Hammond, Bruce W. Mcconnell, Michael Nelson, Janice Obuchowski, Marc Rotenberg, Fred H. Cate

Federal Communications Law Journal

The second panel of From Conduit to Content: The Emergence of Information Policy and Law addresses the government's response to the policy making challenges presented by information. Panelists from the government and academia explore the question: "How has, and how should, the policy-making process respond to the diversity of issues, interests, and policymakers?" Participants include Fred H. Cate, Allen S. Hammond, Bruce W. McConnell, Michael Nelson, Janice Obuchowski, and Marc Rotenbergaddresses the government's response to the policy making challenges presented by information. Panelists from the government and academia explore the question: "How has, and how should, the policy-making process respond …

Reinventing The Examination Process For Patent Applications Covering Software-Related Inventions, 13 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 231 (1995), Alan P. Klein

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

This article examines the issues inherent in patenting software-related inventions, particularly where mathematical algorithms are concerned. Software-related inventions are difficult to patent because they often contain mathematical algorithms, and mathematical algorithms are not patentable subject matter. The PTO recognizes that this approach -- simply identifying the algorithm-containing software as non-patentable -- precludes the need to address the more difficult test of whether software-related inventions are new or not obvious over prior art. The author proposes an improved examination procedure to replace the PTO's current three-step test. The existing PTO examination procedure entails determining whether the claim merely recites a mathematical …

Don't Get Caught In The Net: An Intellectual Property Practitioner's Guide To Using The Internet, 13 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 373 (1995), Mark A. Kassel, Joanne Keane Kassel

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

The 'Net, AKA the Internet, has quickly become one of the most efficient and prevalent forms of communication. By linking through a common protocol, the Internet connects computer networks worldwide and provide seamless access to information. In this introductory guide to the Internet, the author takes readers -- IP practitioners, general legal practitioners, etc. -- on a tour of the Internet. The Internet began as part of the Defense Department's networking research in 1969 by the Advanced Research Projects Agency. In a program called ARPANET, the military attempted to design a interlinking computer networks that provides widespread connectivity without the …

Interactive Computing: Joint Work Status For User And Programmer, Michelle Lynn Birnbaum

Touro Law Review

No abstract provided.

A Lawyer's Roadmap Of The Information Superhighway, 13 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 177 (1995), Mark L. Gordon, Diana J.P. Mckenzie

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

This article provides an interesting historical look at the early days of the Internet. Giving the article more of the feel of a business journal article than a legal analysis, it introduces the uninitiated to the legal framework surrounding the development of the Internet. The authors begin with a brief overview of the Internet's creation, from a decentralized military and scholarly network to the commercial entity it is today. Moving into a description of who is fueling the growth of the Internet as a commercial endeavor, the authors describe how several large telecommunications companies, including cable television and cellular telephone …

Computer Software: Intellectual Property Protection In The United States And Japan, 13 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 245 (1995), Jack M. Haynes

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

Software, and not hardware, forms the interface between computer users and the machines those users operate, thus allowing the users to accomplish their tasks. These software programs, no less than hardware, are in need of intellectual property (IP) protection. The process of creating new programs occurs only through extensive software development, which is often costly and time consuming. Therefore, the need for software IP protection is apparent. This comment helps readers to fully understand the ramifications of the presence or absence of software IP protection, by first examining the overall structure of a computer and the interplay between its various …

The Rodney King Beating: Beyond Fair Use: A Broadcaster's Right To Air Copyrighted Videotape As Part Of A Newscast, 13 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 269 (1995), Leslie Ann Reis

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

This article discusses the copyright implications of news broadcasters using videotape and other images in their newscasts. News broadcasters obtain audio and video materials for use in their broadcasts, and on most occasions they obtain these materials from a variety of sources. The broadcaster cannot infringe on the copyright of the news source unless given permission by the source or decide to use it under the Fair Use Doctrine. However, a newscaster may also use the copyrighted material under a possible exception created by the First Amendment right to freedom of the press. The law that provides a creator with …

In Re Warmerdam: When Is A Software Process Too Abstract To Merit Patent Protection?, 13 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 667 (1995), Steven M. Santisi

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

Unlike many foreign countries, the United States does not have an explicit rule that defines software as unpatentable subject matter. Despite the United States’ leadership position in patent protection, U.S. case law defining patentatble subject matter has evolved slowly and painfully. The legal controversy restricting software patentability stems from the principle that abstract ideas are not patentable. The Patent and Trademark Office remains uncomfortable in granting patents for inventions ideally embodied as software. Inventors’ attorneys continue to test these boundaries and the PTO continues to reject patent applications for software inventions based on the grounds that they constitute non-statutory subject …

Revising The Copyright Law For Electronic Publishing, 14 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 1 (1995), David J. Loundy

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

The Copyright Act has historically been amended to address technological changes. The Act has been shaped to apply to new situations not previously considered by the original authors. Rather than pass a new Copyright Act to address computer programs and technology, the current Act should be repaired. The changes made to the Copyright Act as a result of the CONTU report provide some necessary updating to the Act, but the increasing use of computer technology is demanding additional refinements to the Copyright Act. In order to amend the Copyright Act with the least amount of disruption, the definition of a …