Intellectual Property Header Descriptors: A Dynamic Approach
by Luella Upthegrove and Tom Roberts
ABSTRACT
The global electronic library will need standards that facilitate the
controlled distribution and protection of digitized intellectual properties,
and that encourage library expansion and access. This paper describes a system
based on intellectual property distribution and protection that is currently
being tested at Case Western Reserve University, and defines a global header
descriptor applicable to the electronic distribution of intellectual
properties.
INTRODUCTION
The mission of the Library Collections Services Project (LCS) at Case Western
Reserve University (CWRU) is to establish an online multimedia repository to
serve the academic and research needs of the CWRU community. To this end, LCS
has created a number of prototype applications that demonstrate the potential
of a networked multimedia repository. These prototypes address the interests of
the providers and consumers of intellectual property (IP) resident in the
repository.
Early on, the LCS project team recognized the responsibility it had to maintain
and protect the electronic IP. The team collected IP management requirements by
meeting with members of the publishing and legal communities, reproduction
rights organizations, librarians, online information service providers, and
academicians.
The issues that resulted from these meetings fall under the general headings
of: IP protection, IP use management, and royalty compensation.
DEVELOPING THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT
The LCS team began its system design by defining end-to-end system components
based on the requirements gathered. The requirements fell logically into the
broad categories of: Ownership, Compensation, Permissioning, User Access,
Privacy/Confidentiality, and Permitted Uses. Prior to building the prototype
repository and applications, appropriate permissions were obtained from
participating rightsholders.
Applications were designed that verify user authorization, access the IP, and
manage IP use before and during repository access. These applications compare
user information and usage data coupled to the IP to determine access and use.
Comparison of user information and usage data satisfies the protection and use
requirements detailed in license agreements negotiated with IP rightsholders.
These applications, all of which adhere to a set of data and protocol
standards, are called compliant applications. Only compliant
applications can access the IP in the repository.
EXPANSION TO THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT
To expand this model, consider that all IP consumers are part of the local
environment. They access repositories on which they have registered accounts,
and information passed between user and repository is managed at the local
level. Users maintain the ability to query information contained in remote
repositories; however, the request for the IP transacts between the user's
local repository and the remote repository in the global environment.
The LCS model can be expanded to this global environment. To accomplish this
the following assumptions, significant issues in themselves, are made:
- Permissions for storage, access, use, and compensation have been negotiated
and agreed upon.
- Compliant applications are resident and in use on all participating
systems.
- Economic structures for billing and compensation have been established.
- Technical strategies for locating IP are in place.
A typical global transaction may develop as follows.
A user locates and requests IP on a remote repository. The request is routed
through their local repository to the remote repository where the requested IP
resides. The protocol of this communication contains a standard request that
includes information identifying the IP, the requesting repository, the user
environment specifications, and the intended use. The remote repository
verifies the request, constructs a header descriptor based on that request, and
replies to the requesting repository. This header descriptor is in the form of
a standardized global header descriptor.
Using the local environment presented earlier as a base, data common across the
global environment can be identified. The following elements are proposed for
inclusion in a global header descriptor.
Ownership
to include rightsholder identification and contact information for use in
compensation, special permissioning, and copyright code compliance.
Permitted Uses
to include uses as negotiated with the rightsholder detailing authorized users,
display resolutions, print capability, etc.
Royalty Compensation
to include the compensation framework as it relates to the permitted uses.
IP Attributes
to include the physical attributes, and component parts comprising the IP.
To accommodate this information, each descriptor element would contain a
variable length data string preceded by a standard ID. These elements would be
mapped to the local repository for use by functionally compliant applications.
In the form of a dynamically generated global header descriptor, information
common, particular, and primary to IP providers and purveyors can be developed
to enable global and local protection and use management.
CONCLUSION
The challenge of developing standards for the global electronic library may
seem overwhelming; however, inaction will render the vision vain. Opportunities
are afforded to those who begin now to define the framework of the new
environment.
This paper presents a prototype system designed for intellectual property
protection and use management in a local electronic environment. It then begins
to describe a global header descriptor based on the two premises that: the
electronic environment is comprised of local users connected to primary global
repositories, and that intellectual property access is mediated by applications
compliant to established protection and use monitoring requirements.
To this end, it is proposed that a global header descriptor contain a set of
data elements that identify intellectual property: Ownership, Permitted Uses,
Royalty Compensation, and IP Attributes.
Local and global standards must cooperate to provide access and use controls
such that IP providers, purveyors, and consumers are confident that their
interests are protected. Properly designed standards will enable repositories
to fulfill their responsibilities, and encourage the use and expansion of the
global electronic library.
BIOGRAPHY
Thomas Roberts, DBA Communication Media and Documentation Services, is
consulting with CWRU's LCS Project. CM&D specializes in knowledge transfer
using established and emerging technologies. With CWRU, CM&D is identifying
and analyzing copyright, permissioning, and royalty compensation issues as they
apply to electronic intellectual property distribution.
Tom Roberts
Library Collections Services
Case Western Reserve University
10900 Euclid Ave., Baker 6
Cleveland, OH 44106-7033
tfr4@po.cwru.edu
Luella Upthegrove, Database Administrator for CWRU's LCS project, helped design
and develop the prototype electronic library, and is currently involved in
planning for the second version of the system.
Luella Upthegrove
Library Collections Services
Case Western Reserve University
10900 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44106-7033
(216) 368-8921
FAX: (216) 368-8880
Internet: lru@po.cwru.edu
