Featuring articles by top experts from such companies as Rambus, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and FreeScale, this collection addresses the issues that concern those in the ICT field looking to keep systems safe and secure without sacrificing quality or ease of use. This book cogently addresses verification, standards, handoff, and legal issues to create a comprehensive look at one of the most important, yet sometimes under-appreciated, topics in the industry.

As technological developments multiply around the globeâ€"even as the patenting of human genes comes under serious discussionâ€"nations, companies, and researchers find themselves in conflict over intellectual property rights (IPRs). Now, an international group of experts presents the first multidisciplinary look at IPRs in an age of explosive growth in science and technology. This thought-provoking volume offers an update on current international IPR negotiations and includes case studies on software, computer chips, optoelectronics, and biotechnologyâ€"areas characterized by high development cost and easy reproducibility. The volume covers these and other issues: Modern economic theory as a basis for approaching international IPRs. U.S. intellectual property practices versus those in Japan, India, the European Community, and the developing and newly industrializing countries. Trends in science and technology and how they affect IPRs. Pros and cons of a uniform international IPRs regime versus a system reflecting national differences.

An excellent text for clients to read before meeting with attorneys so they'll understand the fundamentals of patent, copyright, trade secret, trademark, mask work, and unfair competition laws. This is not a "do-it-yourself" manual but rather a ready reference tool for inventors or creators that will generate maximum efficiencies in obtaining, preserving and enforcing their intellectual property rights. It explains why they need to secure the services of IPR attorneys. Coverage includes employment contracts, including the ability of engineers to take confidential and secret knowledge to a new job, shop rights and information to help an entrepreneur establish a non-conflicting enterprise when leaving their prior employment. Sample forms of contracts, contract clauses, and points to consider before signing employment agreements are included. Coverage of copyright, software protection, and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) as well as the procedural variances in international intellectual property laws and procedures.

This book provides a practical understanding of intellectual property basics relevant in an academic environment. It describes the process of performing a comprehensive prior art search, determining business value, filing for a patent, licensing to companies, and using follow-up patents to create a valuable portfolio. The text also covers starting a new business and recent changes in patent application procedures. A special chapter addresses issues in copyright law relevant to academics, such as determining what is copyrightable in reporting an industry-sponsored project.