A broad introduction to the changing roles of intellectual property within society Intellectual property is one of the most confusing--and widely used--dimensions of the law. By granting exclusive rights to publish, manufacture, copy, or distribute information and technology, IP laws shape our cultures, our industries, and our politics in countless ways, with consequences for everyone, including artists, inventors, entrepreneurs, and citizens at large. In this engaging, accessible study, Aram Sinnreich uncovers what's behind current debates and what the future holds for copyrights, patents, and trademarks.

Intellectual Property (IP) is often a company's single most valuable asset. And yet IP is hard to value, widely misunderstood and frequently under-exploited. IP accounts for an estimated 5trn of GDP in the US alone. It covers patents, trademarks, domain names, copyrights, designs and trade secrets. Unsurprisingly, companies zealously guard their own ideas and challenge the IP of others. Damages arising from infringements have fostered a sizeable claims industry. But IP law is complex, and the business, financial and legal issues around it are difficult to navigate. Court decisions and interpretation of IP laws can be unpredictable, and can dramatically change the fortunes of businesses that rely on their IP - as demonstrated in the pharmaceutical industry's battle with generic drugs. This comprehensive guide to intellectual property will help companies, investors, and creative thinkers understand the scope and nature of IP issues, pose the right questions to their advisers and maximize the value from this crucial intangible asset.

"Clear, correct, and deep, this is a welcome addition to discussions of law and computing for anyone -- even lawyers!"-- Lawrence Lessig, Professor of Law at Stanford Law School and founder of the Stanford Center for Internet and Society If you work in information technology, intellectual property is central to your job -- but dealing with the complexities of the legal system can be mind-boggling. This book is for anyone who wants to understand how the legal system deals with intellectual property rights for code and other content. You'll get a clear look at intellectual property issues from a developer's point of view, including practical advice about situations you're likely to encounter. Written by an intellectual property attorney who is also a programmer, Intellectual Property and Open Source helps you understand patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and licenses, with special focus on the issues surrounding open source development and the GPL. This book answers questions such as: How do open source and intellectual property work together? What are the most important intellectual property-related issues when starting a business or open source project? How should you handle copyright, licensing and other issues when accepting a patch from another developer? How can you pursue your own ideas while working for someone else? What parts of a patent should be reviewed to see if it applies to your work? When is your idea a trade secret? How can you reverse engineer a product without getting into trouble? What should you think about when choosing an open source license for your project? Most legal sources are too scattered, too arcane, and too hard to read. Intellectual Property and Open Source is a friendly, easy-to-follow overview of the law that programmers, system administrators, graphic designers, and many others will find essential.

Intellectual property strategies to power your bottom line In the innovation economy, intellectual property is among the most valuable assets a business can have. IP strategy isn’t just incidental to success, it’s a key driver—research shows that IP-intensive small- and medium-sized enterprises are 60% more likely to achieve high growth. Myra Tawfik and Karima Bawa, two noted experts in the field of IP law and strategy, want to help you achieve greater success through the strategic deployment of your business’s IP. More than just patents, IP encompasses confidential information and trade secrets, industrial design, copyright, and trademarks. Understanding the unique IP portfolio of your business and how to leverage it for maximum benefit can pay huge dividends. A strong IP strategy can allow you to command higher prices for your goods and services, increase your market share, generate new revenue streams, improve brand recognition, attract new investment, and lower your costs. You can also avert threats from your competitors by using your IP both offensively and defensively to protect your market and drive up your competitors’ costs. Perfect for entrepreneurs, innovators, inventors, expert advisors and investors, this primer will sharpen your knowledge and help you make informed decisions about IP strategy to drive your business forward.

This guide provides a solid grounding in concepts such as IP generation, IP valuation, portfolio management and the monetisation of IP assets, as well as practical guidance on setting an IP strategy and managing the risks associated with third-party intellectual property.

"Offering practical guidance to non-IP specialists who encounter these issues in their legal practice, this book provides specific and useful information on areas where business interests intersect with intellectual property issues, including trademarks, copyrights, patents, trade secrets, domain names, technology, and more."--

Gain a common-sense approach to the practice of intellectual property law. The authors, both experienced IP attorneys, share their knowledge in a comprehensive yet practical guide. They explain the fundamentals of all major areas of IP law and how to handle the most common situations in patent, trademark, and copyright cases. It is an invaluable resource for those newer to the practice as well as offering a basic understanding of IP law for those outside the area.