The Ontology of Cyberspace: Law, Philosophy, and the Future of Intellectual Property

by David R. Koepsell

With the proliferation of computer software and media, controversies have arisen around copyright and patent law. This book is based on the idea that the cyberworld encompasses all computer-mediated phenomena. Koepsell proposes intellectual property protection to cope with the complexities of the virtual world, and argues that the subjects of patents and copyrights are essentially the same — they are all manmade, intentionally produced objects, and all “expressions” of some kind.

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

David is an author, philosopher, attorney, and educator whose recent research focuses on the nexus of science, technology, ethics, and public policy. He teaches at the Delft University of Technology, and lives in The Netherlands.