Don’t be surprised if we start seeing “look and feel” Web page cases in the courts in the next few years, bringing this intricate set of copyright questions out of their software ghetto and into the wider world of mass publishing.
Predictor: Rose, Lance
Prediction, in context:In a 1995 essay for ISPworld, Internet law expert Lance Rose writes about potential copyright issues for Web site builders: ”The new functions available for Web servers and browsers can make Web pages operate like computer-program screens, known as ‘interfaces’ … Where Web pages act like computer-program interfaces, it makes sense to look for guidance to the copyright concepts developed for the ‘look and feel’ of computer software. While this is not an entirely settled legal area, litigation over the past 10 years has set certain basic parameters for look and feel ownership that would seem to apply directly to program-like Web pages. The page developer cannot own any part of the page that he or she did not originate, such as the use of dialog boxes, drop-down or pop-up menus or title bars … Don’t be surprised if we start seeing ‘look and feel’ Web page cases in the courts in the next few years, bringing this intricate set of copyright questions out of their software ghetto and into the wider world of mass publishing.”
Biography:Lance Rose, a lawyer, earned a high profile for his expertise in Internet issues in the 1990s. He wrote “Netlaw: Your Rights in the Online World” (1995). (Legislator/Politician/Lawyer.)
Date of prediction: April 1, 1995
Topic of prediction: Controversial Issues
Subtopic: Copyright/Intellectual Property/Plagiarism
Name of publication: ISPworld
Title, headline, chapter name: Legally Online: Own a Piece of the Web
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://www.boardwatch.com/boardwatchOnline/1995/apr95/bwm42.htm
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney