Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
The growth of Internet use and ease with which files and ideas can be transferred across continents has led to tighter regulation of and concern for intellectual property rights. Intellectual property refers to the rights of the thought process and intellectual creativity which developed the work. Information professionals should be aware of the Intellectual Property Rights issues. You should be aware that intellectual property is the legally enforceable right of the owner. You can find lots of additional information at http://www.intellectual-property.gov.uk/
Most countries have laws regulating the copying of inventions, identifying symbols and creative expressions. The UK laws cover four main types of intangible property: patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets, referred to collectively as "intellectual property."
Intellectual property has many of the same characteristics as tangible property. It is an asset which can be bought, sold, licensed, exchanged or given away. The intellectual property owner has the right to prevent unauthorised use or sale of the property.
Clients should be aware that they should not use library computers (or any others) to do anything which infringes someone else's intellectual property rights, eg: by copying content from someone else's website into their own document, or illegally copying music files.
You can find additional information about intellectual property rights at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property
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