Intellectual Property In The Information Age Knowledge As Commodity And Its Legal Implications For Higher Education

Economic, political, and social forces are redefining knowledge as property that can be owned, and institutions of higher education, as producers of knowledge, are central participants of this phenomenon. Debates about intellectual property are rampant, some arguing that knowledge should not become a commodity for exchange, others that intellectual property fosters innovation in society. What is not debatable is the importance of the law for resolving disputes about intellectual property. Today, the evolving legal context associated with intellectual property and technological advancements have created competing interests and demands from individuals, institutions, and even nations. The law is often the realm in which these interests and disputes take place, with more or less satisfying results. Colleges and universities must grapple with not only complex legal issues but also the philosophical and political consequences associated with the conversion of intellectual acts into property. This monograph pays special attention to the intellectual property of copyrights and patents. It examines how legal parameters, competing interests, and technological advances take shape in economic, political, and social contexts that require colleges and universities to make intellectual property central to their operations.--P. [4] of cover.