This quantity indicates how, in view that 1950, the expansion of copyright legislation has undefined, and enabled, the extreme monetary development of the leisure, broadcasting, software program and communications industries. It reproduces articles written via an intensive checklist of prime thinkers. US students represented in readings comprise James Boyle, Lawrence Lessig, Pamela Samuelson, Mark Lemley, Alfred Yen, Julie Cohen, Peter Jaszi and Eben Moglen. major non-US members contain Alan tale, Brian Fitzgerald and Peter Drahos. those and different authors clarify copyright origins, the advance of the legislation, the speculation of enclosure, overseas traits, contemporary advancements, and present and destiny instructions. at the present time, the copyright procedure is usually portrayed as an engine of progress, and powerful law as a predictor of monetary improvement. in spite of the fact that, critics see risks within the enlargement of highbrow estate rights. The articles during this quantity concentration largely at the electronic age, studying how copyright law is probably going to impact targets of dissemination and access.