Cyberregs: A Business Guide to Web Property, Privacy, and Patents

by Bill Zoellick

New government regulation, legislation, and technology trends are dramatically changing the Web, making yesterday's assumptions obsolete -- often, disastrously so. In this thought-provoking book,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0201722305
• ISBN13: 9780201722307
• Release Date: September 2001
• Publisher: Addison Wesley Publishing Company
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.59 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 7.7" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Complete IP primer for e-commerce

This is a complete primer on intellectual property and its value to the enterprise. Key issues that are addressed include:Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)- this is probably the most important discussion in the book because it continues to be controversial.Complete discussions of all aspects of intellectual property law as it pertains to cyberspace. The clarification of the protections afforded to patent holders that are not given to trademark holders is invaluable. In addition, I learned much about the value of patents and how a business model can be developed around patents alone. I particularly liked the discussion of patent ownership (employee inventor vs. company to which the patent was assigned). This alone makes the book worth reading.Case studies - many of the case studies which are used throughout the book focused on pending court cases when the book was published. Many have now been resolved, the resolution of which open more questions and further cloud issues. I'd like to see an update or second edition that provides closure.Excellent introduction to technical issues. The author has a knack for reducing the key elements into easy-to-understand chunks of information that teach non-technical readers quite a lot about technology.If you buy one book on intellectual property law from a cyber-business perspective, this is the one to get.

The other side of CI

Although CyberRegs has a much wider audience, my perspective of this book is that of a competitive intelligence specialist. The four topic areas covered, from a CI specialist's point of view are illuminating.The first two topics, copyrights and patents, are the foundation of intellectual property and by extension, corporate and shareholder value. The author's discussion of both copyrights and patents expose loopholes that can work for or against you, depending on which side you are on. One theme the author repeatedly addresses is the fact that copyright and patent law is lagging behind the technology. He cites numerous case studies, all of which you will either applaud or condemn depending on which side of the issue you happen to be. As a CI specialist who engages in "white ops" (collection of competitive intelligence using legal methods), I was somewhat dismayed by aspects of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) because it draws legal boundaries that didn't previously exist. The CI community needs to be aware of this particular law because what was heretofore "white ops" may fall under black ops (illegal intelligence gathering) under the provisions of the DMCA.The more technical topics, electronic signatures and privacy, are presented in the same balanced and thought-provoking way as copyrights and patents. Having recently read Bruce Schneier's SECRETS & LIES I had some insights into the technical aspects, but the nuances that Mr. Zoellick brings to these topics makes for compelling reading. He manages to raise thorny issues and provide answers from both sides of the issue. Overall this is an invaluable book that should be read by anyone who seeks to understand the current state of intellectual property laws, the challenges imposed by the connected world, or how the laws and challenges combine to change the playing field. As stated above, the DMCA alone will have wide implications in my profession, and is certain to affect business operations and corporate policy in far ranging ways.

A surprising must-read, even for technical people

I am a senior engineer for network security operations who frequently reviews technical books. I was hesitant to read "CyberRegs," given its "Business Guide" subtitle. Noticing the book mentioned controversial topics like the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA), Napster, and the DeCSS case, I decided I'd give "CyberRegs" a try. That proved to be a wise decision, and I strongly recommend this book to anyone worried about the future of the Internet. The book is exceptionally well-written, with a clear style and a welcome lack of typos (gasp). In a former life I read plenty of boring, repetitive policy books, but I had no trouble digesting "CyberRegs." The book is arranged around the themes of copyright, patents, electronic signatures, and privacy. "CyberRegs" gives both sides of each argument, but wisely includes the authors own helpful opinion. (I was pleased to see the author share many of the security community's views on the DMCA, Napster, and so on.) Because Zoellick presents balanced arguments, readers will understand the opposition's complaints and can more effectively counter them. "CyberRegs" was written to help business people engage in the debates and legislation shaping the Internet. Along the way the reader gains a solid historical understanding of how we arrived at the current state of affairs. Would you believe that software or business methods weren't patentable until recently? Would you believe the United States was the world's most egregious intellectual property pirate until 1891? Given this background, readers gain a sense of why policies developed, and how one can help influence the present and future of the Internet. I found no major weaknesses in this book or its arguments, but I have two technical/security comments. First, "Web bugs" can be used to transfer more information than an IP address; some use "Web bugs" to validate email addresses. Second, giving customers access to data collected by businesses opens bigger doors for malicious hackers to manipulate that data. Readers may share these concerns, which the author doesn't address. "CyberRegs" seems marketed as a "business guide," and speaks in part to "business people." As a technical person, I gained the knowledge needed to better defend my opinions on copyright, patents, electronic signatures, and privacy. Technical staff looking for the "why" of state of the Internet will probably love this book -- I certainly did! (Disclaimer: I received a free review copy from the publisher.)

Excellent treatment of a very important topic

This is one of the most important books I've read because it clearly explains intellectual property laws, and how those laws affect all of us, regardless of whether our frame of reference is e-commerce or off-line business.It starts with an introduction that in five short pages sets the essence of the web in a clear context. If you are like me and normally skip introductions, do yourself a favor and read this one.The four parts of this book cover copyright, patents, electronic signatures and privacy. Each topic area is part of a mosaic that contains related elements that are not always grouped together (i.e., those concerned with intellectual property may not care about privacy). However, these four parts comprise the source of challenges and opportunities for the "connected" world.Instead of a blow-by-blow description of each part or chapter I am going to address what I liked most:(1) The history and concepts of each topic are woven into the factual narrative and insightful analysis provided by the author. Each topic is reinforced by court cases, many of which are still ongoing or not completely settled. After you've finished each of the parts you will have a keen understanding of the issues and challenges of copyrights, patents, electronic signatures and privacy. I especially liked the way the author sorted out the complexities of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and current patent law, and the balanced reporting of strengths and weaknesses of these.(2) The opportunity to make money off of a business that has as its sole product patents is fascinating. The discussion of Walker Digital's business model is bound to have an impact on the entrepreneurial reader. I also thought that Chapter 3, Control Put into Practice, was excellent because it describes how the author's company was forced to change its business model based on customer demand and opportunities seen by going to electronic distribution. The way challenges and threats were handled is excellent reading and encompasses legal and technical considerations.(3) The balanced view the author brings to the good and bad of intellectual property laws, electronic signatures and privacy will keep you focused on the issues instead of succumbing to the temptation to polarize one way or the other (and it *is* a temptation to take one or the other sides). Moreover, the writing is excellent and at times witty. It is also filled with deep analysis and fact.I came away with a deeper understanding of intellectual property laws, an appreciation of the challenges faced by lawmakers and courts, and the ability to see polarizing issues from many points of view. I also came away with some keen insights into how the web has changed things, and the excitement of the opportunities that [current] intellectual property laws and the web combine to open opportunities.