CYBERTHEFT: WILL COPYRIGHT LAW PREVENT DIGITAL TYRANNY ON THE SUPERHIGHWAY?

The potential for electronic theft on the information superhighway is addressed. The success of the superhighway depends to some extent on the willingness of information providers to supply information resources and creative works. The ability of current copyright law to allay the fears of information providers regarding the potential for electronic theft on the superhighway is assessed. The preliminary draft of the Working Group on Intellectual Property Rights is a constructive and well-reasoned approach to revising the copyright laws. The draft addresses all of the important points in a manner that should make the law predictable, workable and applicable to transfers of an intellectual work by something other than a tangible item or material object.