Cyberregs: A Business Guide to Web Property, Privacy, and Patents

by Bill Zoellick

New government regulation, legislation, and technology trends are dramatically changing the Web, making yesterday's assumptions obsolete -- often, disastrously so. In this thought-provoking book, leading Web consultant Bill Zoellick offers an up-to-minute executive briefing on the enormous paradigm shift that's under way -- giving businesspeople the critical information they need to understand its impact, and influence the debate. Yesterday's popular notion -- that the Web's freedom-loving nature will sweep away existing rules, business arrangements, and governments -- has proven to be a hopelessly poor foundation for planning, strategy, and investment. Will yesterday's wide-eyed anarchy be replaced by tomorrow's cynicism and control? Can a middle ground be found that will protect the Web's vitality and your business interests? This book focuses on four key areas of public policy and Web technology: patent, copyright, privacy policy, and electronic signatures. For each topic, Zoellick presents a brief history of the issues, litigation, and legislation, and applies the state-of-the-law to a current Web business. The result: a "big picture" view that helps businesspeople recognize the issues, understand their short-term and long-term interests -- and impact the outcome.

307 pages, Hardcover

First published September 14, 2001