Professional Issues in Information Technology, 2nd Edition

11 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

After studying this chapter, you should:

• be familiar with the different types of intellectual property that are relevant to information technology and understand their applicability;
• understand the rights attached to the different kinds of intellectual property and the way in which these rights can be enforced;
• be aware of the issues that are at the root of current debates about intellectual property rights.

11.1 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

If someone steals your bicycle, you no longer have it. If someone takes away a computer belonging to a company, the company no longer has it.

This seems very obvious. In fact, it hides an important and subtle point. If you invent a drug that will cure all known illnesses and leave ...