The growing importance of intellectual property in the digital age

With digital innovation has come a variety of ways to protect intellectual property or IP; the challenge for current innovators is to ensure that they develop the most apt strategy to protect their inventions and labor. 

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It all begins with a keen understanding of copyright law.  Governments all over the world are finding ways to keep updated on various developments and disruptions created by the arrival of the internet and new technologies (like blockchain, for example).  These involve laws for radio, TV, video games, music, photography, books, sound recordings, and the like.

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Intellectual property is meant to fuel creative industries while curtailing any infringes on such rights.  In the U.S., courts are expected to come up with clear-cut statutory conditions amounting to the so-called “safe harbor” protection.  Additionally, service providers should themselves volunteer to implement such systems and act swiftly to take down any defined violation.

All in all, the success of intellectual property in the digital age will depend on establishing laws that continue to provide incentives for innovation and creativity while being flexible enough for amendments as new forms of disruptions arise.  Whether via patents, copyright, trademarks, authorship, or registered rights, IP can partner with licensing for enhancing the value of existing and future assets. 

Michael E. Melton has authored numerous published legal articles in the field of intellectual property, including the foreword for “Little Blues – How to Build a Culture of Intellectual Property Within a Small Technology Company.” For similar reads, visit this blog.