Intellectual Property and Information Wealth: Issues and Practices in the Digital Age

Citation

McGuirk, K. (2008), "Intellectual Property and Information Wealth: Issues and Practices in the Digital Age", Online Information Review, Vol. 32 No. 4, pp. 543-544. https://doi.org/10.1108/14684520810897467

Intellectual Property and Information Wealth provides historical context, analysis and practical application for the increasingly complicated matter of intellectual property protection. The digital revolution, as referred to by Peter Yu, places a greater responsibility on everyone to at least have some knowledge on and understanding of intellectual property and its applications and implications.

The four volumes that make up the set are quite detailed and are not aimed at the casual reader. Each volume addresses specific aspects related to and affected by intellectual property. The volumes are divided according to the three main branches of intellectual property law, and the fourth volume places it in a global context. The broader approach in Volume 4 will most probably appeal to a wider audience, although it is definitely worth exploring the other volumes, even if one is not well‐versed in intellectual property laws and policies. The discussions are clear and take the lay reader into consideration, especially by including overviews and more in‐depth discussions of the latest developments in the field. To quote Yu, these volumes together form “a comprehensive mini‐library on intellectual property”. Each volume can also be read on its own.

Volume 1 (copyright) offers clarity on the protection of creative products such as novels, films, sound recordings and computer programs. Issues that affect these are covered in detail, namely authorship, duration of copyright, fair use of copyrighted material, the implications of the internet and peer‐to‐peer file sharing. Volume 2 (patents) is specifically about protections for inventors of devices, mechanical processes, chemical compounds and other inventions. Important matters that are examined regarding these protections are the scope and limits of patent protection, research exemptions and infringement, intellectual property in the software and biotech industries, and trade secrets. Volume 3 (trademarks) includes protection of distinctive symbols and signs, including brand names and unique product designs. There are also chapters on consumer protection, trademark and the US first amendment, brand licensing, publicity and cultural images, and internet domain names. Volume 4 (international developments) gives a global perspective by addressing a wider range of issues, such as enforcement of intellectual property protections across borders and their implications for international trade and investment, economic development, national sovereignty, human rights, and public health.

Each volume has its own table of contents, notes on the editor and contributors, and an index. The same preface appears in each volume, and each chapter contribution ends with detailed notes.