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The wider implications of this perceived threat are important. The proliferation of software patents in the
United States may create a heavy international impact, on small businesses and community organisations
seeking software to develop their operation.The running of, say, hospitals and schools could be affected in
countries inside and outside the US, because of the actions of US patents lawyers. Progress in developing new
networks and extending functions of the Internet would also be affected by the cost of extended patents
searches and payment of royalties. Mediation may moderate debates such as the Unisys/Compuserve GIF row
of 1995, in which a demand for royalties from Unisys led Compuserve to ask its software community to pay
royalties on use of the Lempel Zev Welch Graphics Interchange Format. [Shearer, Vermeer, 1995]
After a threatened consumer boycott, Compuserve developed another GIF specification. If it is accepted that
Internet users wish to encourage the best technology towards development of the Internet and global
information systems generally, then the argument by large corporations that they have a right to make profits
from software patents, (which may incidentally damage development), is seen as a claim with less merit.
Presumably, it would then be the aim of Internet users to facilitate a global harmonisation scheme which would
protect intellectual property rights, but not past the point where such rights hinder development of the software
arts.
In the area of copyright the interest of the Internet community requires a balance to be struck between the
need for authors to receive renumeration, the need for the development of comprehensive content bases, and
the process of browsing ,without which the Internet cannot develop to full potential. The best outcome is likely
to be a charging solution which will have the support and uptake of the Internet community. In the US,
proposed legislation, the Information Infrastructure Copyright Act, has been criticised by the ACM public
policy committee chaired by Barbara Simons :
“Our concern with Section 106 (of the Act) stems from the definition of the word “copy.” Whenever a work in
digital form is loaded to the RAM of a computer, or stored in the “cache” of a computer system, a “copy” has
been made. The Bill as currently drafted could be interpreted to mean that the routine downloading into RAM
or caching of a file could be considered infringement, even if this copying is not permanent and is incidental
to the otherwise lawful use of the copyrighted material.” Simons, [ 1996]
ACM copyright policy recognises a need for browsing of material to take place on the Internet. A further
concern of the policy committee is tht copyright holders may, under the proposed legislation, be able to access
information about users.
5 Pornography.
The issue of pornography has been a major creator of trouble for Internet users. Legislation passed in the US
with the intention of limiting the spread of pornographic material , which would have limited free expression
in many areas, has been countered by a finding by the US court of Appeals. Plaintiffs were individuals and
organisations from the Internet community, which also organised a “Blue Ribbon” Campaign against online
censorship. The Court found in June, 1996, that provisions of the Communications Decency Act were
unconstitutional.
Threatened court action from a Munich official caused Compuserve to drop a number of listings from its
international newsgroup delivery for a time in 1996. This is an area where consensus cannot be achieved
about standards within countries, between countries, or within the Internet, despite exhaustive discussions on
newsgroups such as alt. censorship. However, progress may be made, firstly, in accurately assessing the extent
of the problem. Mainstream media reports have been shown to be inaccurate and misleading.The July 1995
issue of Time magazine fuelled the debate about the Bill. Time’s cover art depicted a horrified child looking
into a computer screen, accompanied by the headline “Cyberporn. Exclusive: A new study shows how
pervasive and wild it really is. Can we protect our kids - and free speech? [Time, 1995]
The major significance of the resulting furore on the Internet may be that the Internet community showed how
it could potentially protect itself from the effects of irresponsible journalism. The Internet-based analysis of the
story and its construction could be read as a critique of the operation of media sources formerly considered to
have the highest professional and ethical standards. And in itself, it creates a defence for the right of Internet
users to establish or defend the truth within their new public forum, the Internet. A WELL discussion,
monitored by Brock Meeks [Meeks, 1996] included allegations that Time magazine: