Copyright ©...protects original works of authorship such as works of art, motion pictures, literary works, including computer programs, musical compositions and other creations which are fixed in a tangible form.

Patent...a patent grants a monopoly for a
certain number of years for the use and
development of an invention.

Long before the advent of digital technology, writers, artists and publishers wrestled with issues of creative control, appropriate use and outright theft of text, images and designs. The new technology has created troubling permutations on these thorny issues. With the push of a button, multiple copies of works of first generation quality can be reproduced and transmitted to computer terminals throughout the world. Encoding and encrypting of information along with new licensing models may present possible solutions to infringement issues. Uncertainties about which technology will dominate along with concerns about internet regulation, privacy issues and court decisions persist. Those who would benefit from surfing the waters of the internet must be wary of the dangers lurking beneath the surface.