Episode Information

Now that millions of ideas and images are shared every minute on the web, policy has, thus far, worked mostly to limit that sharing through copyright, patent, and trademark laws.  We'll talk to lawyers who specialize in intellectual property about ideas--and who should own them.

It'll be interesting to see what new developments there are over the years, in terms of intellectual property/copyright laws, as the internet and social media continue to expand.

Maybe it's better to keep ideas for our lawyers :)

 Information, including scientific information, is becoming an increasingly valuable marketplace commodity, a big business. In many cases, facts can be valuable in and of themselves. The creative organization, formatting, or interpretation of those facts offered by the data provider not only are unimportant, but can even be impediments between researchers and the information they seek to use.

I understand the interest that copyright industries have in the preservation of their commercial interests though the use of copyright or Intellectual Property Law. What is harder to understand is where the rights of individuals are protected with respect to security and privacy by companies making use of various technologies to see what we do online overall, either to make sure we aren't using content we haven't paid for, or just to enable better targeted advertising.

Shouldn't IP law protect persons while it protects "property"?

I was wondering if James Boyle could discuss using copyrighted imagery in fine art and in social commentary of the mass media. Are there legal ways to aquire and use mass media imagery? Are there laws and practices that artists should know when they want to use mass media imagery in their artwork? Can you simply cite these images in the same way an academic would cite the references they use and quote?

Great topic! Thanks!

I understand the interest that copyright industries have in the preservation of their commercial interests though the use of copyright or Intellectual Property Law. What is harder to understand is where the rights of individuals are protected with respect to security and privacy by companies making use of various technologies to see what we do online overall, either to make sure we aren't using content we haven't paid for, or just to enable better targeted advertising.

Shouldn't IP law protect persons while it protects "property"?

I am writing a dissertation for a doctorate in music.  I am writing vocal singing exercises that I learned in the oral tradition of studying singing.
If these are not previously written in a book, how do I cite my source or do I even need to?

Tamara

While you're talking about computers, it reminds me of an issue of lack of  standardization that troubles me.
Whatever I buy these days seems to contain pieces and parts that aren't interchangeable with similar parts from a similar object.
For instance, my fridge has a 15 w appliance light bulb produced by a company I never heard of & is not readily available in local hardware stores.
A radio I just bought requires a DC adapter - not included. I have 3 three DC adapters - and none of them fit this radio.
My chain saw required a unique socket wrench.
The connectors for computers are, for an older person like me, so complex and so unavailable at a local store......
ETc, Etc.

I can't afford to keep buying new widgets.
I can't shop locally if there are so many varieties like I described above.

It's just not a sustainable system.