Internet of Infringing Things: The Effect of Computer Interface Copyrights on Technology Standards

Authors

Charles Duan, American University Washington College of LawFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2019

Journal

Rutgers Computer and Technology Law Journal

Volume

45

Issue

1

First Page

1

Last Page

39

Abstract

You connect to the Internet via your Wi-Fi access point. You surf the Web using a browser and send emails through your email server. You probably use some USB peripherals-say a mouse, keyboard, or printer. Maybe you even watch cable or broadcast television.

Under current case law, each of those computer systems and devices may very well be copyright-infringing contraband. This is through no fault of your own-you need not be pirating music or streaming illegal movies to infringe a copyright. The infringement simply exists, hard-wired within each of those devices and many more that you use, a result of the devices' basic operations: connecting to Wi-Fi, displaying web pages, sending email, connecting peripherals, or receiving broadcasts.

Recommended Citation

Charles Duan, Internet of Infringing Things: The Effect of Computer Interface Copyrights on Technology Standards, 45 Rutgers Computer and Technology Law Journal 1 (2019).
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu/facsch_lawrev/2181