In this article, the author asserts that technology is not the answer to digital piracy at colleges and universities. Citing the three most common explanations given for copyright infringement--that students cannot always get what they want, cannot always use what they can get, or think the price of what they can get is unfair--he asserts that the…

In the recent past, the proliferation of digitally available content heralded the beginning of serious problems for the business models of publishers. The ease with which content can be accessed, copied and distributed disrupts the control of those whose role has been to manage and profit from the intellectual property rights of content producers.…

A statement by Senator Orrin G. Hatch opened the hearing on The Computer Software Rental Amendments Act of 1988, a bill which would amend title 17, United States Code, the Copyright Act, to protect certain computer programs. The text of the bill is then presented, followed by the statements of four witnesses: (1) Dr. Alan C. Ashton, president,…

Discusses current laws that can be applied to software piracy and methods to prevent piracy in organizations. Specifically looks at copyright and patent law. (JOW)

Explains that technology teachers using microcomputers must be aware of policies governing software copying and suggests guidelines for classroom and computer lab use. (SK)

This theme issue presents nine articles that describe the availability of various types of computer software for use by patrons in academic, public, school, and special libraries. Topics discussed include selection and evaluation, cataloging and classification, physical access including circulation, copyright and other legal considerations,…

The second article in a four-part continuing education course on legal issues affecting libraries and librarians addresses the issues of liability insurance, malpractice, and copyright laws pertaining to print materials and computer software. (12 references) (CLB)

Discussion of software license agreements implies that they actually contribute to software piracy because of their stringency and indicates that competition in the software publishing field will eventually eliminate the piracy problem. (MBR)

Discussion of reasons for and possible implications of the illegal copying of software focuses on software theft in higher education. Copy protected versus non-copy protected software is discussed, the technology of microcomputer systems is considered, and the impact of theft on software developers and vendors is examined. (LRW)

Institute for the Future of the Book, based in Brooklyn, aims to combine new ways of thinking with new media to forge a new path for expression. The institute, which was founded in 2004, is on its way to releasing the first version of Sophie, an "all-purpose tool" for creating multimedia texts. Like the institute itself, Sophie's mission…

This digest presents a reprint of an article which addresses the issue of the rights of computer software owners to duplicate materials. A conservative approach to software copyright is taken which looks to how the law will likely be interpreted, rather than waiting for the definitive decision by a court. Three major issues involved with software…

This interview with W. Krag Brotby, founder and chairman of Vault Corporation, a producer of security products for microcomputer software, data, and telecommunications, explores the software producer's concerns; how the programs work; the responsibilities of librarians, among others, to prevent illegal copying of programs; and artificial…

Discusses the protection of intellectual property as it applies to computer software and its impact on private enterprise and the public good. Highlights include the role of patents, copyrights, and trade secrets; some court cases; and recommendations for alternatives to the existing legal framework for protecting computer software. (KRN)

The Copyright Act of 1976, particularly the guidelines on fair use, did much to clarify the ambiguity of the 1909 Copyright Act in relation to new electronic media. Although some specific guidelines for teachers were included, it should be noted that microcomputers and disk drives were not yet widely available in 1976. Because experts were divided…

Discusses the issues of software piracy, why people illegally copy software, protection afforded software developers by copyright laws, and current and future methods of disk-based protection built into software by developers and the problems these methods have created. (MBR)