Intellectual Property, Open Source and Free Software

Tere Vaden

1/01/2005
(Original Publish Date: 4/29/2003)

The concept of "intellectual property" has gained a lot of attention recently. Several conflicting trends make it a focal point of controversy. The global trend towards an "information society" gives an increasing role to information, knowledge and other immaterial assets in production. Therefore the economy also needs ways of controlling, identifying and using immaterial assets. This happens largely through the concept of intellectual property.