Communications of the ACM
Innovation Is Overrated: A Provocation
Digital innovation is not working in the interest of the whole of society. It is time to radically rethink its purpose without…
From Communications of the ACM
Oracle v. Google: Are APIs Copyrightable?
Assessing the first phase of the trial based on claims that Google's Android platform infringes Oracle's Java-related copyrights and patents.
From Communications of the ACM
Can Online Piracy Be Stopped By Laws?
Considering the legal responsibilities of Internet intermediaries in the aftermath of the Stop Online Privacy Act controversy.
From Communications of the ACM
Do Software Copyrights Protect What Programs Do?
A case before the European Court of Justice has significant implications for innovation and competition in the software industry.
From Communications of the ACM
Why the Google Book Settlement Failed - and What Comes Next?
Assessing the implications of the Google Book Search settlement.
From Communications of the ACM
Too Many Copyrights?
Reinstituting formalities — notice of copyright claims and registration requirements — could help address problems related to too many copyrights that last for...
From Communications of the ACM
Do You Own the Software You Buy?
Examining the fine print concerning your rights in your copies of purchased software.
From Communications of the ACM
Why Do Software Startups Patent (or Not)?
Assessing the controversial results of a recent empirical study of the role of intellectual property in software startups.
From Communications of the ACM
Should the Google Book Settlement Be Approved?
Considering the precedent that could be established by approval of the controversial Google book settlement.
From Communications of the ACM
Only Technological Processes Are Patentable
The U.S. Supreme Court will narrow the universe of process innovations that can be patented to those that are "technological," but what will that mean for software...
From Communications of the ACM
Are Business Methods Patentable?
How the U.S. Supreme Court's forthcoming decision in the Bilski v. Doll case is expected to affect existing and future software patents.
From Communications of the ACM
When Is a 'License' Really a Sale?
Can you resell software even if the package says you can't? What are the implications for copyright law of the U.S. Supreme Court's unanimous June 2008 decision...
From Communications of the ACM
Legally Speaking: Quantafying the Value of Patent Exhaustion
Should patents confer power to restrict reuses and redistributions of products embodying the whole or essential parts of inventions?12