Page 269 - (ISC)² CISSP Certified Information Systems Security Professional Official Study Guide

are simply the brand names that we’ve all come to recognize. Company
names such as Dell, Procter & Gamble, and Merck bring instant

credibility to any product. Publishing companies, movie producers,
and artists depend on their creative output to earn their livelihood.
Many products depend on secret recipes or production techniques—
take the legendary secret formula for Coca-Cola or KFC’s secret blend
of herbs and spices, for example.

These intangible assets are collectively referred to as intellectual

property, and a whole host of laws exist to protect the rights of their
owners. After all, it simply wouldn’t be fair if a music store bought only
one copy of each artist’s CD and burned copies for all of its customers
—that would deprive the artist of the benefits of their labor. In the
following sections, we’ll explore the laws surrounding the four major
types of intellectual property—copyrights, trademarks, patents, and
trade secrets. We’ll also discuss how these concepts specifically
concern information security professionals. Many countries protect

(or fail to protect) these rights in different ways, but the basic concepts
ring true throughout the world.

Some countries are notorious for violating intellectual

property rights. The most notable example is China. China is world
renowned for its blatant disregard of copyright and patent law. If
you’re planning to do business in this region of the world, you
should definitely consult with an attorney who specializes in this
area.

Copyright and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act

Copyright law guarantees the creators of “original works of
authorship” protection against the unauthorized duplication of their
work. Eight broad categories of works qualify for copyright protection.

Literary works

Musical works

Dramatic works