Intellectual Property and the Not-So-Free Web

When you think of the free Web in the context of not having to pay for something, remember that there’s another aspect: Nearly everything that’s on the Web belongs to someone. And because the Web is so widely accessible, it’s entirely possible that if you abuse someone’s rights regarding their intellectual property, they will discover it and exercise their rights.

Minson, Benjamin. Gryphon Mountain (2009). Articles>Intellectual Property>Copyright

Intellectual Property Responsibilities of Content Developers

As a technical writer, I develop content for the applications I'm supporting. Often that includes designing content, images, and multi-media to provide the best user experience possible. As content developers, however, we have a responsibility (both legal and moral) to ensure that the content we are using is being used properly and legally.

Pherson, Paul. Technically Speaking (2009). Articles>Intellectual Property>Copyright>Ethics

The Law of Social Media: Who Owns User Generated Content? (Part II)

Who owns user-generated content (UGC) posted to social media sites? This is but one of the many vexing issues presented by the emerging law of social media, albeit one of great interest to users, corporate subscribers and social networking providers alike. After all, if possession is 9/10 of the law, then the natural, lay reaction to the question of who owns social media UGC is “the Web site, of course.” That’s not exactly correct, however.

Manishin, Glenn. SiliconANGLE (2009). Articles>Web Design>Intellectual Property>Social Networking

The The Law of Social Media (Part I)

Who owns user generated content (UGC) posted to social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter,MySpace and the like? How has or will the law evolve to deal with the different, and sometimes unique, modes of personal interaction (with others and with information) made possible by social networking technologies? These are just a few of the legal issues presented by the emergence of social media, one of the fastest growing — and most addictive — forms of Internet-based communication in the relatively brief history of the medium.

Manishin, Glenn. SiliconANGLE (2009). Articles>Web Design>Intellectual Property>Social Networking

A Call for Copyright Rebellion

Copyright law was originally intended to protect those who create for profit (Lessig used the example of recording artist Britney Spears). But academics also create original works, he said, and they are — or should be — motivated by a desire to advance human knowledge, not line their pockets. Therefore, sealing their work behind copyright barriers does no social good.

Kolowich, Steve. Inside Higher Education (2009). Articles>Intellectual Property>Copyright>Academic

The Culture of Sharing: Why Releasing Copyright Will Be the Smartest Thing You Do 

A large number of us want people to be able to share ideas and communicate freely, without legal restrictions. And I’d go even further: we like it when creative people freely share their work with us, and allow us to use their work (or derivatives of it) in our own work. This is the Culture of Sharing that is growing on the Internet.

Babauta, Leo. Write to Done (2009). Articles>Intellectual Property>Copyright>Writing

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway (or, the Privatization of the English Language) 

I find it unbelievable that a common phrase (that was used way before it was the title of any book) can be trademarked. We’re not talking about the names of products … we’re talking about the English language. You know, the words many of us use for such things as … talking, and writing, and general communication? Perhaps I’m a little behind the times, but is it really possible to claim whole chunks of the language, and force people to get permission to use the language, just in everyday speech?

Babauta, Leo. Zen Habits (2009). Articles>Intellectual Property>Trademark>Writing