The digital information war
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14684520710730994 |
| Date | 27 February 2007 |
| Pages | 5-9 |
| Published date | 27 February 2007 |
| Author | Mariemma I. Yagüe |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
GUEST EDITORIAL
The digital information war
Mariemma I. Yagu
¨e
Universidad de Ma
´laga, GISUM Group, Malaga, Spain
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this Guest Editorial is to introduce the papers in this special issue.
Design/methodology/approach – A brief summary of the main contributions of the papers
included in this issue is provided.
Findings – In order to combat the digital information war it was found that important work must be
done to establish both users’ and content providers’ trust through fair e-commerce/digital rights
management (DRM).
Originality/value – The paper provides an overview of the basic requirements of DRM systems.
Keywords Worldwide Web,Information services, Informationcontrol
Paper type Viewpoint
Since the advent of the Web, this new environment has emerged as a vast repository
where anyone may place his or her content. As no rules were imposed initially, all kinds
of information could be freely disseminated worldwide. Content industries also joined
the Web and used this platform to sell their copyrighted digital products on a global
scale. The problem has arisen when these digital contents under copyright have been
illegally downloaded without penalty, and consequently content authors have not
received appropriate remuneration for their creations. In addition the associated content
value chain is long (rights holder’s organisations, content providers, publishers,
broadcasters, DRM solution providers, among others). This problem has particularly
affected digital content industries such as the music industry, where the amount of
unauthorised downloading of copyrighted music in MP3 format has grown dramatically
in recent years.
We must address two different aspects when considering the access of information
on the Web. On the one hand are the users, whose objective is to freely access and share
the information available. On the other are the content providers, who want
technologists to develop Digital Rights Management (DRM) systems and tools to
prevent the unauthorised distribution of their copyrighted work. The ultimate aim
must be to reach a balance between both fair use and individual rights versus the
interests of content providers. Perhaps the music industry should have taken users
interests into account years ago. Now, however, users’ attitudes and habits need to be
changed in order to find a workable solution which is fair and acceptable to both sides.
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/1468-4527.htm
The Guest Editor wishes to acknowledge the support of Professor Gary Gorman, Editor of the
Online Information Review, for his dedication during the whole process to producing a high
quality journal. She also specially wishes to acknowledge Dr Leonardo Chiariglione for his
collaboration in this event, and to invited speakers, Suzanne Guth and Bill Rosenblatt, for their
appealing talks and interest during EuDiRights’06.
The digital
information war
5
Online Information Review
Vol. 31 No. 1, 2007
pp. 5-9
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
1468-4527
DOI 10.1108/14684520710730994
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