The Business of Digital Publishing

10

Copyright, piracy and other legal issues

This chapter introduces some of the main copyright and legal issues that need to be considered in the context of digital publishing. It aims to provide a brief introduction to each topic and outlines the background to some of the debates that continue to surface, with references at the end for further research.

The topics outlined are:

1. Copyright: fit for the digital age?
2. Issues around infringement: mass digitisation, protection with DRM and piracy
3. Contract considerations

Introduction

The emergence of digital products has led to a growing challenge for publishers operating in the digital environment. One of the most fundamental aspects of publishing that has come under scrutiny during the development ...