IP Laws Need to Change in the Digital Age
We live in a digital age, characterized by rapidly spawning technologies and innovations. With all the new technology comes the ability to do things that we were unable to do before. Now if for some reason you are wondering about copyright and patent legislation, you may ask yourself, how could IP laws possibly cover situations involving technologies that were not even dreamed of 10 years ago? Yeah, exactly.
There are a few major problems that need the most attention. Firstly, with the internet, it has become very difficult to enforce media copyright. Works are pirated left and right, content is reproduced in thousands of places right after it is released. Fair Use can be applied in some of these situations, but not those that involve monetization. Next, you may remember the legal standoffs between Samsung and Apple surrounding general patents filed years ago. Tech powerhouses apply for thousands and thousands of patents—many times with no intent of ever utilizing them. This has led to a culture of patent-bullying. Additionally, in the beginning of the tech boom, companies were able to secure overly general patents on devices such as cellular phones. These were granted for the sole reason that no one imagined the revolution that was brewing. I think that the government needs to intervene in this sector, specifically the Department of Justice, for patent bullying and the possession of sweepingly general patents could lead to monopolistic behavior.
Whatever the case, IP is proving more and more difficult to secure in the digital age. At the same time, rights to old IP might need to be given a second look.
Sources: http://www.ip-watch.org/2015/11/22/nigeria-prepares-to-revamp-its-copyright-system-for-the-digital-age/
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/technology/233846-a-copyright-office-for-the-digital-age
http://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Next-Librarian-of-Congress-could-remake-copyright-6630969.php