header-logo header-logo

e-stuff: why knowledge is all

nlj_7790_ramage

There are more ways of considering digital property than there are commentators, as Roderick Ramage explains

When you put a coin in a newsvendor’s hand and take the proffered paper, you create a contract, the subject matter of which is a tangible object, a newspaper. The newspaper itself contains intangible property in the form of reports, articles, pictures, cartoons etc, the copyright in which belongs to the newspaper publisher or its contributors, which you may read but which you are not entitled to copy except for fair use or dealing. Similarly, if you buy a ticket to enter a concert hall or a motor car, you acquire a tangible object and with it some benefits in respect of intangible property. Broadly speaking, all that has changed over the millennia is the medium through which intangible property is delivered.

Knowing what you have

Tangible property consists mainly of computers (including desk- and laptops, tablets and smartphones) mobiles, 3D printers, memory devices, modems, power sources (transformers), cabling etc.

Intangible property includes almost

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

EIP—Stuart Malcolm

EIP—Stuart Malcolm

EIP strengthens Commercial practice with a new partner

Ellisons—Francesca Brown

Ellisons—Francesca Brown

Ellisons welcomes Francesca Brown to Family team

Shakespeare Martineau—Marie Bourke

Shakespeare Martineau—Marie Bourke

Shakespeare Martineau strengthens Sheffield regulatory practice with new hires

NEWS
A wide-ranging Civil Way column highlights developments from insolvency procedure to employment law, but one case stands out for its lessons on bankruptcy, family homes and digital communications
A sprawling Intellectual Property Office battle between House of Fraser and Frasers Property has delivered a masterclass in modern trade mark law
Courts in England and Wales and Singapore are increasingly confronting complex disputes over international child relocation as families become more globally mobile
The government’s long-awaited family law reform consultation could mark a turning point for domestic abuse victims navigating financial remedy proceedings, but significant challenges remain
A new commercial court pilot giving the public access to documents used in hearings, including expert reports, is raising difficult questions about transparency and privacy
back-to-top-scroll