BKDGTPRP.RVW   980726

"Digital Property", Lesley Ellen Harris, 1998, 0-07-552846-0,
U$16.95/C$22.99
%A   Lesley Ellen Harris lesley@copyrightlaws.com
%C   300 Water Street, Whitby, Ontario   L1N 9B6
%D   1998
%G   0-07-552846-0
%I   McGraw-Hill Ryerson/Osborne
%O   U$16.95/C$22.99 800-5655758 fax 905-4305020 louisea@McGrawHill.ca
%P   240 p.
%T   "Digital Property: Currency of the 21st Century"

According to the preface, this is a book for everyone about
everything.  The author makes no distinction between "digital" and
"intellectual" property, basically admitting that the former title is
chosen to take advantage of the new interest in the net and all things
electronic.  Harris also maintains that this is a bedside and beach
book, as well a business, technical, or legal reference, and anyone
who thinks that intellectual property can be made "light" reading has
set quite a challenge.  Oddly, that is the difficulty Harris seems to
have met most handily.

Part one starts with the obvious question of what is this digital
property, or content.  Chapter one starts to provide a conceptual
background for intellectual property (referred to as IP) and in doing
so narrows the focus.  It becomes obvious that the primary emphasis is
on copyrightable materials, rather than patents, trade secrets, or
other forms of IP.  There is also some basic information on
information networks, electronic commerce, and other related topics. 
A series of examples of content, or collections of digital content,
are listed in chapter two.  The general tone is fairly mercenary in
terms of seeing everything as potentially saleable, and I was reminded
of a piece of advice from Harvey Mackay, "Remember that you are never
going to get paid for everything you do."

Part two refers to currency but is concerned with the value of content
rather than any monetary instruments.  Chapter three's list of
business models for making money off IP will be easily recognizable to
anyone who has been on the net for a while.  As far as the actual
value of property, chapter four's final word is most accurate: there
are no hard and fast rules for determining the value of your IP.

Part three looks more specifically at the mechanics of making money. 
Chapter five gives helpful details to think about when considering
about licensing agreements.  The various different types of property
rights, and national and international legislation in respect of them,
are covered in chapter six.  However, the advice on the transition
from traditional to "new" media, in chapter seven, is of the blue sky
variety.

Protection of property is reviewed in part four.  Chapter eight is a
rather pedestrian piece on piracy.  Chapter nine is a mixed bag of
non-IP related issues.

Part five looks at the future.  The question of jurisdiction can be a
very difficult one on the Internet, and is examined in chapter ten. 
Chapter eleven is a brief wrap up.

The book certainly is readable, and as a beach bag companion it has a
decided edge over an Amway pamphlet.  While the non-specialist reader
with an interest in intellectual property in the digital age might
find it interesting, the techies, lawyers, and businesspeople might
find it less so.  The text is definitely intellectual property, but
professionals will find it oddly content-free.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 1998   BKDGTPRP.RVW   980726