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

Is software a creation to be patented, like an invented machine or process, or an original expression to be copyrighted, like drawings and books? This distinction is artificial, argues Koepsell, and is responsible for the growing legal problems related to intellectual property law. Computer-mediated objects are no different from books, songs, or machines and do not require any special treatment by the law. The author suggests revisions to the legal framework itself which prevent this artificial and problematic distinction, and simplifies the protection of all intellectual property.