Intellectual Property Rights in an Age of Electronics and Information Page: iii
This report is part of the collection entitled: Office of Technology Assessment and was provided to UNT Digital Library by the UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Foreword
This report examines the impact of recent and anticipated advances in com-
munication and information technologies on the intellectual property system. It
focuses primarily on the Federal copyright system, and on the continuing effec-
tiveness of copyright law as a policy tool in the light of technologies such as audio-
and videorecorders, computer programs, electronic databases, and telecommuni-
cations networks. To obtain a comprehensive view, the study examined the intel-
lectual property system from a number of perspectives: the constitutional basis
of intellectual property policy; the system's goals, laws, and economics; the crea-
tive environment; problems of enforcement; the international context; and the Fed-
eral role in administering intellectual property rights.
OTA found that technological developments are affecting all aspects of the
intellectual property system. Moreover, because we are only beginning to move
into the era of electronic information, the full impact of new technologies will not
become fully apparent for some time. Fundamental changes are occurring in in-
formation technologies that will antiquate many of the policy mechanisms now
in force, and bring new intellectual property problems requiring new solutions.
Thus, even if Congress acts now in response to current problems, it will need to
be prepared to act again within the next decade.
The report was requested by Senator Charles McC Mathias, Jr., Chairman
of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Patents, Copyrights and
Trademarks; and by Congressman Peter W. Rodino, Jr., Chairman of the House
Judiciary Committee, Congressman Robert W. Kastenmeier, Chairman of the Sub-
committee on Courts, Civil Liberties, and the Administration of Justice, Congress-
man Hamilton Fish, and Congressman Carlos Moorhead.
In preparing this report, OTA has drawn on working papers developed by
OTA staff and contractors, the comments of participants at seven OTA work-
shops held to discuss issues, the results of two public opinion surveys conducted
by Yankelovich, Skelly & White, and conversations between OTA staff and over
130 interested individuals. Drafts of the report were reviewed by the OTA advi-
sory panel, officials from the Copyright Office, the Patent and Trademark Office,
the Library of Congress, the Department of Commerce, the Department of State,
the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and a broad range of individuals from
law firms, public interest groups, trade associations, private industry, and
academia.
OTA appreciates the participation of the advisory panelists, workshop par-
ticipants, Federal agency officials, and interested citizens, without whose help
this report would not have been possible. The report itself, however, is the sole
responsibility of OTA, not of those who ably advised and assisted us in its prep-
aration.Director
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This report can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Report.
United States. Congress. Office of Technology Assessment. Intellectual Property Rights in an Age of Electronics and Information, report, April 1986; [Washington D.C.]. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc39611/m1/3/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.