Focuses on the history of the United States as a copyright haven from 1790 to the Chace Act of 1891. Indicates analogies between the United States' historical practice and the exploitation of its intellectual property, without observing copyright, to late 20th-century China. Examines the contrast between the idea of a transition to an information…

This discussion of copyright protection for computer programs focuses on the "first sale doctrine" and "shrink wrap" licenses, copyright of databases, copyright ownership, and copyright notices. (EM)

Provides an overview of the legal nature of copyright, its history, and present status. Current issues of concern to information professionals are then discussed, including reproduction and distribution of copyrighted material, interlibrary loans, the "Five-Year Review" of the current law, technology, nonprint materials, and databases.…

The history of copyright legislation is traced from 1476 to 1984, with particular emphasis on the copyright of such nonprint material as computer software and programs, sound recordings, and videorecordings. A review of the history covers the Statute of Anne (1710) and English common law through the various Copyright Acts of the United States…