March 1998 Insights Issue #25

Back to Net gains or net dreams?

Global Networks and IPRs

The Global Information Society implies a vision whereby every household, business or community site in industrialised and (eventually) in developing countries will be 'wired' to networks of some kind. Access to networks will let people share information and the new knowledge is expected to help to alleviate many kinds of development problems. 'Wiring' nations is only part of the vision. Access is important so that people in developing countries can accumulate capabilities to transform the new sources of digital information into knowledge. There is controversy about how much further intellectual property rights (IPRs) protection should be extended into cyberspace. There are fears that developing countries will be short-changed by new regimes for governing networks and information services, since enforcement will increase information costs. Where to strike a balance between the interests of equipment and information service producers and users who stand to benefit, is a big problem for legislators and businesses.