Regulatory and Political Economic Perspectives on Internet Intellectual Property
Open Access
Author:
Bender, Alyssa Myree
Area of Honors:
Media Studies
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Ronald V Bettig, Thesis Supervisor Ronald V Bettig, Thesis Honors Advisor Matthew Jackson, Faculty Reader
Keywords:
copyright intellectual property political economy Internet law
Abstract:
Increased use of the Internet and social media has facilitated the arrival of a new set of challenges facing the current media environment, particularly in regards to intellectual property rights. The purpose of this critical analysis is to investigate the problems brought about by the Digital Age, focusing on the effects of social media and Internet use on intellectual property infringement and the factors at play behind legislation and litigation. The study begins with an overview of the historical development of intellectual property law and the Internet in the United States, as well as important Supreme Court cases concerning copyright infringement and recent telecommunications policies, including the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the Stop Online Privacy Act, and the PROTECT Intellectual Property Act. These forces are then evaluated using the political economy approach to mass communications. Finally, this thesis analyzes current media challenges in terms of both policy and political economy.
