Book details of 'Digital Property: Currency of the 21st Century'

Title	Digital Property: Currency of the 21st Century
Author(s)	Lesley Ellen Harris
ISBN	0075528460
Language	English
Publisher	McGraw-Hill Professional

---

Back to shelf Privacy
Amazon.com info for Digital Property: Currency of the 21st Century

Score:

Vote for this book

The Virtual Bookcase Reviews of 'Digital Property: Currency of the 21st Century':

Reviewer Rob Slade wrote:
According to the preface, this is a book for everyone about everything. The author makes no distinction between "digital" and "intellectual" property, basically admitting that the former title is chosen to take advantage of the new interest in the net and all things electronic. Harris also maintains that this is a bedside and beach book, as well a business, technical, or legal reference, and anyone who thinks that intellectual property can be made "light" reading has set quite a challenge. Oddly, that is the difficulty Harris seems to have met most handily. Part one starts with the obvious question of what is this digital property, or content. Chapter one starts to provide a conceptual background for intellectual property (referred to as IP) and in doing so narrows the focus. It becomes obvious that the primary emphasis is on copyrightable materials, rather than patents, trade secrets, or other forms of IP. There is also some basic information on information networks, electronic commerce, and other related topics. A series of examples of content, or collections of digital content, are listed in chapter two. The general tone is fairly mercenary in terms of seeing everything as potentially saleable, and I was reminded of a piece of advice from Harvey Mackay, "Remember that you are never going to get paid for everything you do." Part two refers to currency but is concerned with the value of content rather than any monetary instruments. Chapter three's list of business models for making money off IP will be easily recognizable to anyone who has been on the net for a while. As far as the actual value of property, chapter four's final word is most accurate: there are no hard and fast rules for determining the value of your IP. Part three looks more specifically at the mechanics of making money. Chapter five gives helpful details to think about when considering about licensing agreements. The various different types of property rights, and national and international legislation in respect of them, are covered in chapter six. However, the advice on the transition from traditional to "new" media, in chapter seven, is of the blue sky variety. Protection of property is reviewed in part four. Chapter eight is a rather pedestrian piece on piracy. Chapter nine is a mixed bag of non-IP related issues. Part five looks at the future. The question of jurisdiction can be a very difficult one on the Internet, and is examined in chapter ten. Chapter eleven is a brief wrap up. The book certainly is readable, and as a beach bag companion it has a decided edge over an Amway pamphlet. While the non-specialist reader with an interest in intellectual property in the digital age might find it interesting, the techies, lawyers, and businesspeople might find it less so. The text is definitely intellectual property, but professionals will find it oddly content-free. copyright Robert M. Slade, 1998
Add my review for Digital Property: Currency of the 21st Century

Book description:

Digital Property; Currency of the 21st Century is everyone's guide to seeing information for what it is: a lucrative commodity. Every great product or service begins with an idea, and the value of this "invisible property"--once the province of lawyers specializing in the area--is now front-page news, as Bill Gates and major corporations acquire intellectual property at unheard-of pace. This timely book shows readers that their creative work--whether a photo, a painting, music, data, or a new game--is like money in the bankc, and controlling its content means big profits.