Legal Resources Relating to Internet and World Wide Web Issues

The Internet and the World Wide Web have raised new issues regarding copyright and trademarks. The ease with which original materials may be copied and distributed is unequaled in all of history. Many people take the position that "information wants to be free," but many others disagree and wish to protect their investment in ideas and original work.

Keep in mind that the links which are provided here do not purport to give you legal advice. These links provide information which you may use in your efforts to determine your rights and the rights of others as you build your Web page, write your software, or prepare your CD-ROM for distribution.

For competent legal advice, please see a lawyer who specializes in intellectual property and who has experience with issues raised by the Internet and the World Wide Web.


Contents:


General Intellectual Property:

Law-on-the-Internet Book List
A fairly complete list with reviews and URLs for more information.
Law Journal Extra Intellectual Property News
Ethics and Intellectual Property Resources on the Web
NOTE:Registration is required for access to the New York Times so go to this link first to set your password.
Cyberspace Law for Non-Lawyers
Cyberspace Law Institute
U.S. House of Representatives Internet Law Library
Intellectual Property Magazine
The Internet Law Page
Electronic Property Article Archive
Understanding Intellectual Property Rights
Oppedahl & Larson Patent Law Web Server
This site is misnamed; it covers patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright, and computer law -- apparently the entire field of intellectual property, with links to even more information and other sites. And it has extensive disclaimers that are fun to read.
KuesterLaw Technology Law Resource
A very lengthy page with a long download time and lots of self- promotion awards graphics. This Website covers every area of intellectual property law imaginable. An important part of the first page is a list of lawyers holding themselves out as technology lawyers with their geographical locations. You will also find links to texts of recent court cases, statutes, and bills in Congress.
Practical & Legal Fundamentals of Intellectual Property
Some myths about intellectual property
And now for something completely different. This is an unattributed article pointing out some of the shortcomings of arguments in favor of intellectual property laws; posted by an anarchist.
The Economy of Ideas
This article by John Perry Barlow was published in Wired 2.03. I cannot give an unbiased summary of this article. I disagree with it totally, beyond it's concepts, into its method of thought and presentation. I think it is New Age nonsense. (The way Penn and Teller pronounce New Age, it rhymes with sewage, and I agree.) It isn't often that I get to read exciting essays that get my adrenaline pumping, and I hope you enjoy this article as much as I do. I especially enjoyed reading the extensive copyright notice at the bottom of the article restricting the use and reproduction of the article. :-)
David Loundy's E-LAW Web Page
The information at this site is in depth and excellent. Recommended.
Copyright & Fair Use, Stanford University Libraries
A searchable database which includes statutes, cases, regulations, treaties and conventions, current legislation, and Internet resources. Recommended.
Intellectual Properties
A brief essay by an artist on how tough it is to parse out the intellectual property issues vis- a- vis the Internet. There are links to other views, including Ted Nelson and Esther Dyson.

Copyright:

Selections from the U.S. Copyright Statute
I have excerpted a couple of sections of the U.S. copyright statute. If you have had a Web page "stolen," you may be surprised to find that criminal penalties may apply. See your lawyer for details.
The Copyright Website
Contracts, Copyrights and Preemption in the Digital World
An excellent discussion of the issues involved in protecting original works and federal preemption of state law contracts involving copyrights.
10 Big Myths about copyright explained
Brad Templeton gives his take on copyright law and why you shouldn't copy articles from ClariNet.
Copyright law and the electronic compilations of data
For all you people who think lists (like this) can't be copyrighted.
The Copyright Commandments from PACA
Although written for photographers, the guidelines here apply to all authors of original material, regardless of the medium of expression. Required reading.
Computers and Copyrights: Bibliography
A list of hardcopy texts for offline browsing.
A Discussion of U.S. Copyright Law
My brief review of U.S. copyright law and its application to using images on a Website.

Multimedia

Copyright Law as Applied to Multimedia Productions
Multimedia Content and the Superhighway
Multimedia Law Primer
An excellent summary by two lawyers of the legal issues involved in putting together a multimedia project.
A Copyright System for Networked Inteactive Multimedia
The Public Domain Information Project
A (copyrighted) Web site "organized to help the ordinary person identify and access music in the public domain." If you are looking for royalty- free music for your project, this is one place to look. It also has an interesting discussion of how works get into the public domain and the status of derivative works of public domain music. Although this site is devoted to music, the concepts have broader application.
Making the New Media Deal
An overview of a couple of issues involving negotiating your CD-ROM deal -- royalties and sequels and derivative works.
Multimedia Law Sites
A very extensive list with a searchable database of lawyers.
Highwater FBI's Home Page
FBI is Fingerprinting Binary Images. This site sells software that purports to put a hidden identifier in digital images. Current pricing for the program is £249 for 10,000 uses plus £25 per year per ID.
WEBSurf Issue 5
WEBSurf is an ezine, and this issue contains a good discussion of contracts by a nonlawyer who has a practical approach to getting a contract for his work.

Patent

MicroPatent Web Services
Fee-based patent searches are available here. There is also considerable free information, as well.
Internet Patent News Service
A "mostly daily" emailed news source for information about patents. Subscription is free.
Against Software Patents
A 1991 article sponsored by the League for Programming Freedom and apparently still maintained by Tom Epperly. This article points out the difficulties of examining and granting patents for software. See the next link for a rebuttal.
Debunkng the Software Patent Myths
A lengthy, point- by- point dispute with the LPF's article by an author cited in the LPF article as having an "absurd patent" with an "outrageous result." This pair of articles makes for very thoughtful reading.
Patent FAQ
This is not the Usenet FAQ.
IBM Patent Server Home Page
Searchable database for patents issued after January 5, 1971.

Software

Legal Care for Your SOFTWARE
This is a promotion for a book, which is made available online. Chapters cover contracts, trade secrets, copyrights, patents, and that ever- important topic, limiting your liability. Thank these people for their trust and generosity.
Protecting rights in user interface designs

Trademark

MicroPatent Web Services
Fee-based trademark searches are available here. There is also considerable free information as well.
Trademarks Along the Infobahn
An article summarizing the disputes arising from the use of domain names and trademarks of other holders.

Other pages available for you here are --
Entrepreneur- Related Web Sites
Business- Related Web Sites
Law
Travel
World Market

You may send me information about your company or yourself at
philip@crl.com
or just drop me a line with comments, questions, or suggestions.

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