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Article: E-Books and Licensing - When is a Book Not a Book?(case of Random House Inc. and Rosetta Books L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Mondaq Business Briefing
- Article date:
- July 17, 2002
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Mondaq Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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When is a book not a book? According to a recent decision in the case of Random House, Inc. v. Rosetta Books, LLC, affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, a book might not be a book if it is in digital form. The case also stands as a reminder of the importance of carefully constructing the grant clause of any intellectual property license.
Random House, the New York-based publishing house, sought an injunction against Rosetta Books, whose entire business is the sale of "e-books." E-books are digital copies of books readable on computer screens or other electronic devices. Rosetta had signed up certain authors' works for its e-books, ...