Dealing with Piracy. Intellectual Asset Management in Music and Software

18 Pages Posted: 20 Jan 2003

See all articles by Jeroen van Wijk

Jeroen van Wijk

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Rotterdam School of Management (RSM); Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM)

Date Written: 30 2002 9,

Abstract

The music and software industry are employing copy-protection devicesin CDs and digital downloads to strengthen their weak appropriabilityregimes that leave ample opportunities for modern-day piracy. Theeffectiveness of the strategy is explained on the grounds that (a) theknowledge involved in copy protection is generally too sophisticatedfor consumers to circumvent, and (b) consumers are not allowed to usecircumvention techniques created by knowledgeable third parties. Copyprotection is controversial, because it deprives consumers from makinghome copies of music and software, and hence overrules copyright lawthat exempts the copying for private use. It is argued that thetechnical enforcement of copyright protection in the home domain ofmillions of individuals necessitates a wide consensus between businessand society about the legitimacy of private and fair use.

Keywords: appropriability, codification, managerialism, intellectual assets, digital rights management

JEL Classification: M, M10, L2, K11

Suggested Citation

van Wijk, Jeroen, Dealing with Piracy. Intellectual Asset Management in Music and Software (30 2002 9,). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=371028

Jeroen Van Wijk (Contact Author)

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) ( email )

P.O. Box 1738
Room T08-21
3000 DR Rotterdam, 3000 DR
Netherlands

Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM)

P.O. Box 1738
3000 DR Rotterdam
Netherlands

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