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Recently the definition and power of intangible but still valuable intellectual property has been a serious area of discussion in the corporate world. The government too is interested, but the public still remains disinterested. Considering that such property only exists because of government granted copyrights, trademark and patents, it is interesting too see how powerful a commodity they are today. Here are few IP issues that are turning heads today.
1) Software Patents. The idea of patents, when applied to software, runs into many unique issues. Software patents are too numerous and broad for companies to actually verify is their own software is actually infringes or not. This leads to companies gathering large amounts of patents in hope they stave off attempts to sue them by counter-suing the other companies using their own parents. These so called patent warchests are something of corporate version of nuclear missiles and MAD.
2) Entertainment industry. The length of patents in the music and movie business has also been another hotspot. Many copyrighted works continue to hold their monopoly decades after their original authors have died. Disney still holds exclusive rights, despite the death of Walt Disney decades ago, obtained by getting retroactive copyright extensions. In addition, we see a vast amount of lawsuits by families of the deceased still trying to profit from ancient works. Things like "happy birthday" can be copyrighted despite their cultural traditions in almost every American.
3) Pharmaceutical industry charges increasing high costs for drugs. The drug industry continues to profit enormously from government granted monopolies on their drugs. Considering the vital need for many of these drugs, people will pay astronomical prices. In addition, drug companies also have huge advertisement campaigns for drugs and spend far more on marketing than they do on actual drug development. Also, many companies focus on symptom suppressing drugs that require constant use, than actual cures for ailments.
1) Software Patents. The idea of patents, when applied to software, runs into many unique issues. Software patents are too numerous and broad for companies to actually verify is their own software is actually infringes or not. This leads to companies gathering large amounts of patents in hope they stave off attempts to sue them by counter-suing the other companies using their own parents. These so called patent warchests are something of corporate version of nuclear missiles and MAD.
2) Entertainment industry. The length of patents in the music and movie business has also been another hotspot. Many copyrighted works continue to hold their monopoly decades after their original authors have died. Disney still holds exclusive rights, despite the death of Walt Disney decades ago, obtained by getting retroactive copyright extensions. In addition, we see a vast amount of lawsuits by families of the deceased still trying to profit from ancient works. Things like "happy birthday" can be copyrighted despite their cultural traditions in almost every American.
3) Pharmaceutical industry charges increasing high costs for drugs. The drug industry continues to profit enormously from government granted monopolies on their drugs. Considering the vital need for many of these drugs, people will pay astronomical prices. In addition, drug companies also have huge advertisement campaigns for drugs and spend far more on marketing than they do on actual drug development. Also, many companies focus on symptom suppressing drugs that require constant use, than actual cures for ailments.