Management of intellectual property by electronic publishers

Abstract

Electronic publishers manage their intellectualproperty in an environment that appears to foster illegitimate competition,particularly piracy.The characteristics of digital technology thatfacilitate copyright infringement are outlined includingthe proliferationof powerful home and business computers that offer access to copyright materialand the ability to delete copies instantly.This is followed byinvestigation of how intellectual property dilemmas affect the activities ofelectronic publishers. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, thirty-one small and medium-sizedelectronic publishing firms in the UK were interviewed, including thirtymanaging directors, five technical directors, and eight marketingdirectors. Results indicated that most firms created their ownintellectual property through research and testing (perhaps in order to enjoythe fruits of their labor).The legal methods of protection, bothtechnical and non-technical, that the firms adopted are thendiscussed.Most firms agreed that the government should ensure fairplay in the industry, but felt that government assistance had yet to provemore than minimally supportive. Clearly, the views of the industry and those of policy-makers concerning thethreats facing electronic publishing are not in harmony.While thegovernment would like to combat piracy by tightening intellectual propertyrights, electronic publishers are creating and managing intellectual propertyin ways that reveal concerns far beyond those of piracy.Throughinnovation, timely product development, and other resource based capabilities,electronic publishing SMEs are safeguarding their intellectualproperty.(SAA)