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Library 2.0 Initiatives in Academic Libraries

This is the wiki of the ACRL print publication Library 2.0 Initiatives in Academic Libraries (2007). This wiki presents updates on the case studies described in the book.

SSRN-The Piracy Paradox: Innovation and Intellectual Property in Fashion Design by Kal Raustiala, Chris Sprigman

Raustiala, Kal and Sprigman, Chris "The Piracy Paradox: Innovation and Intellectual Property in Fashion Design." Virginia Law Review, Vol. 92, p. 1687, 2006; UCLA School of Law Research Paper No. 06-04. http://ssrn.com/abstract=878401

This detailed article is an in depth view of both sides of the fashion copyright debate. Rather than simply looking at and supporting only one viewpoint on this controversial issue, the authors address both angles to the fashion copyright controversy. They then proceed to prove why support of low IP protection is the better choice despite arguments made in support of fashion copyright laws. This article describes the fashion industry as unique since it continually produces original content while its main creative element remains outside of copyright protection. This appears to condradict the theory of IP rights which claims that copying, which is rampant in the fashion industry, smothers the incentive for innovation. The article then presents the reader with the two overarching arguments. The argument for increased copyright protection within the fashion industry is more of a moral rights claim. This side claims the lack of current fashion design protection is an injustice to the immense creativity put into the creation of apparel. The other side looks at the unique nature of the fashion industry. They claim copying drives the cycle that makes fashion such a thriving, innovative industry. The article then proceeds to delve into past attempts at copyright protection for fashion. One failed attempt was made by the Fashion Originators' Guild of America: they made a deal between designers and retailers to refuse the sale of any copied apparel and boycotted any member of the guild who violated this rule. Since clothing and apparel are considered utilitarian objects, copyright should not apply to fashion design. Patents and trade dress also are not effective methods of protecting copyright. Although trademark is used by designers, it can only be used to protect names and logos, not entire designs. Therefore, bills like HR 5055 are suggested by groups like the CFDA. One of the main concepts of this paper is how induced obsolescene and the positional nature of apparel drive the fashion cycle, which would be incredibly slow and ineffective without copying. In addition, Raustiala and Sprigman explain how free appropriation helps to anchor trends in the industry. So, they conclude that due to induced obsolescene and anchoring of trends, the fashion industry has remained stable despite rampant copying. Finally, the authors address the copyright system in the European Union and how even with protection laws, very few design infringment cases come to court. Additionally, due to the litigious culture of the United States, copyright protection in the US would simply flood the courts with unnecessary cases and reduce innovation due to fear of suit.

This article is of extreme importance to any research regarding the issue of fashion copyright. The article is unique among other scholarly works on this issue in that rather than just delving into one side of the debate, the authors address the arguments on both sides of this fashion copyright war. This is an extremely useful method and structure since it provides the reader with insight into both arguments. However, the article is then strengthened by analyses of both arguments and subsequent counterarguments against those supporting fashion copyright. Since my topic revolves around whether fashion copyright should be enacted or not, having both argments laid out within one coherent paper is extremely beneficial. The paper also looks at previous attempts at fashion copyright. This is important in building the history and basis of design protection in my paper and why these laws should not be enacted in the present day. This article is very important in building the foundation of my argument.

SSRN-The Fashion Lottery: Cooperative Innovation in Stochastic Markets by Jonathan Barnett, Gilles Grolleau, Sana El Harbi

Barnett, Jonathan, Grolleau, Gilles and Harbi, Sana El. "The Fashion Lottery: Cooperative Innovation in Stochastic Markets." USC CLEO Research Paper No. C08-17; USC Law Legal Studies Paper No. 08-21. http://ssrn.com/abstract=1241005

This article puts an economic spin or an economist's viewpoint on the fashion copyright debate. In other words, it applies economic principles to the fashion industry to show why an incomplete property regime, not complete copyright protection, is the most sensible situation for the fashion industry. To build this argument, the author first explains the concept of "fashion risk," the main economic problem in fashion. Due to demand uncertainty in the fashion industry, it is difficult to forsee if a new design will be successful. So, designers need a system of collective insurance to balance the losses from seasonal product failure and the risk of firm bankruptcy. This collective insurance comes from designers allowing limited imitation which maximizes earnings in the long run. Basically, how this economic idea works is that the designer that produces the "winning" design for that season earns a larger prize, keeping the incentive for innovation alive. However, the incomplete property regime also gives smaller profits to the "losing" designers as a kind of insurance against the "fashion risk." This method is termed the "winner take most" approach. The article then transitions into three different types of imitation: mark perfection, design perfection, and quality perfection. These are then related to three different methods of imitation: horizontal imitation, legitimate vertical imitation (knockoffs), and illegitimate vertical imitation (counterfeits). Basically, horizontal imitation is copying among high end designers while vertical imitation is copying of elite designs by lower end fashion designers in a trickle down effect. As stated previously, the fundamental economic problem for designers is demand uncertainty and the associated risk of bankruptcy. By allowing horizontal imitation and legitimate vertical imitation, this risk is greatly reduced. An obvious way to success for the majority of the market is to wait until the winning design is determined for the season by the consumers and then release imitation products as this eliminates risk and increases success. However, this would kill innovation. So, the best solution is incomplete protection-positive yet constrained imitation. The economics equations show that to maximize final wealth and minimize the variance of final wealth incomplete, not complete, property regimes are required. This can be explained by the idea that at one extreme the winner does not make enough and so incentive is low. At the other extreme, insurance is too low and risk is too high. Both of these cases lead to underinnovation. In short, some imitation supports design innovation while too much or too little undermines it. Therefore, only the very few elite firms can afford the complete copyright protection suggested by bills such as the Design Piracy Prohibition Act.

This article is a very unique way to approach this fashion copyright war. It is an invaluable asset to my argument against enacting fashion design protection laws. This article basically utilizes economical principles to build mathematical equations proving that incomplete copyright protection or rejection of recently proposed copyright laws is more beneficial to society than enacting complete protection for fashion designs. The organization of this paper with alternating pieces of mathematical equations and textual analysis creates an extremely convincing and almost indisputable argument due to the logical thought process this method of presentation creates. This article greatly enhances my argument in that it provides an alternative viewpoint, particularly an economist's angle, which still points towards the same conclusion: fashion copyright laws should not be enacted.

Human Side of Managing Technological Innovation - A Collections of Readings (2nd Edition)

Management of innovation / Tom Burns and G.M. Stalker.

Burns, Tom, 1913- . Management of innovation / Tom Burns and G.M. Stalker. Rev. ed. 0198288786 (pbk.) series Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1994.
Call#: Van Pelt Library HD31 .B83 1994

This book details the studies of two different tech firms, one in England and the other in Scotland during the mid-1950's. One of the first of its kind, the authors coined particular terms still used and taught today - most notably mechanistic and organic management systems. I first read about these two terms in Strategic Managment of Technological Innovation by Melissa A. Schilling (also one of my cited sources for this project). Mechanistic structures can be looked at in this way: if the company represents a pyramid, you have higher ups at the very top. As employee status lessens, it's represented more at the bottom. The flow of information moves upward towards the upper echelons and decisions and instructions flow downward through the ranks. This creates a tight organizational system that is stable yet highly rigid. The fact that it runs like a 'well-oiled machine' keeps any thoughts towards innovation at bay.

An organic structure on the other hand, was coined for firms going through rougher, less organized times in which adopting a mechanistic system will not solve problems. Rather than a vertical chain of command, job duties are more open and constantly changing to adapt to different problems and projects. People of different rank and status communicate in a freer, more open manner, which can lead to the easy exchange of ideas and change.

I am trying to understand the different systems that corporations can use or model themselves on, and how those systems work with or hinder innovation. This text provides the roots for technological and innovation management theory, which is helping me to identify why and when companies innovate, and why maybe they wouldn't. In the case of my particular research, I want to apply the theory found in this text to the Hollywood studio system and see if I can draw any connections between the two.

McGraw-Hill: Strategic Management of Technological Innovation : Book

This is a textbook used for courses taught in the Wharton School, specifically for courses that deal with the management of technology and innovation (MGMT 237 in particular). I was referred to this text by Dr. William Hamilton who is the founder of the Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology - an undergraduate dual-degree program with Wharton and SEAS. After discussing my research topic with Dr. Hamilton, he referred me to Chapter 10 of this text as a starting point in researching more on the organizational methods companies take when innovation is such an important factor in their business. Professor Hamilton notes that even though the cases discussed within the text do not specifically reference the Hollywood film industry, the chapter will help immensely in learning more about what drives companies towards or away from innovation. The text also has some wonderful further reading suggestions.

Chapter 10 focuses on structures within a firm that can lead to implementing an innovation strategy. By looking at research on different corporate structural dimensions in relation to firm size like formalization, standardization, and centralization, one can understand how these affect a company's propensity towards innovation. The size of an organization can greatly influence the possibilities for innovation. It has been argued that smaller organizations are less rigid in their procedures and are more into fostering research, experimentation, and creativity. The other side of that argument is that as long as a large entity is organized efficiently and employs practices that are well-thought-out, development opportunities are also very likely to be implemented effectively.

The three structural dimensions noted above are the three factors most associated with affecting a firm's inclination towards innovation, as well as its possible success. Formalization involves rules, protocols, and the written communications that are used to help shape individual or group conduct within the company. Formalization has often acted as a way to manage, especially when you have less managers. The problem here is that when you have too much formalization it can lead to rigidity within the company and it's working community. Standardization involves uniformity, and how the company's standards, day-to-day operations, projects, etc. are performed in a consistent manner. In the same way that formalization can cause rigidity, so can standardization represent a significant roadblock towards adopting innovating practices. Centralization is how much decision-making capabilities are kept at the uppermost levels of management, while decentralization refers to the lower levels of a company and the amount of decision-making that is made at this level. This concept is often looked at in a geographical sense - firm activities can either be held in a central location, in this case, at company headquarters, or a decentralized location far away from headquarters. These two concepts can not determine a propensity towards innovation in a cut and dry sense; they both have positive and negative affects on the possibilites for innovation.

Organizational structures have been divided into two traditional categories by scholars: mechanistic structures, which are good for maintaining efficiency (and incorporates formalization and standardization) and organic structures, which are seen to be freer and more open to creative and progressive activities. There are companies that try to adopt both a mechanistic and organic structure - these are called ambidextrous organizations. Trying to balance both is a constant struggle for multinational corporations who find the need to innovate and develop new products and business schemes imperative to compete in their marketplace.

Learning abstracts

Linked from society for college and university planning blog

Innovation in Community Colleges, several documents on reinventing the learning process

Learning Abstracts March 2008 Volume 11, Number 3

Relationships and engagement : The challenges and opportunities for effective leadership and change management in a Canadian research library

Library Management
Vol. 29 No. 1/2, 2008
pp. 29-40

2010: a library odyssey

Author(s):Grace Saw, Wai Wai Lui, Fei Yu
Journal:Library Management
DOI: 10.1108/01435120810844649

A conversation with Gary Hamel: it's time to reinvent management

STRATEGY & LEADERSHIPjVOL. 36 NO. 2 2008

Robert Allio

The Architecture of Innovation

Lessig,L . "The Architecture of Innovation" Duke law journal [0012-7086] 51.6 (2002). 1783-.

Hollywood, the Internet and the World: A Geography of Disruptive Innovation

CURRAH,A . "Hollywood, the Internet and the World: A Geography of Disruptive Innovation" Industry and Innovation [1366-2716] 14.4 (2007). 359-.

Welfare Implications of User Innovation

Henkel,J . "Welfare Implications of User Innovation" The Journal of technology transfer [0892-9912] 30.1 (2004). 73-.

The DMCA and Original Equipment Manufacturers: Let Consumers Decide

The Misapplication of the DMCA to the Aftermarket

Legal and Technological Efforts to Lock Up Content Threaten Innovation

ScienceDirect - Research Policy : Digital copyright and the "new" controversy: Is the law moulding technology and innovation?

Voice recording may be world's oldest - CNN.com

Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations (Event Video/Audio) | Berkman Center

Approximately an hour long, talk given by Clay Shirky at Harvard Law about his book. Very interesting progression of group formation through to collective action.

Home - Library Labs - National Library of Australia wiki

Interactions - January/February 2008

Fish4Info

Interactions - January/February 2008

Interesting article about mapping the lifecycle of innovation, lots of food for thought

How innovative is your organization? | Eddielogic

Technology and Innovation in Developing East Asia: An interpretive survey

Trade in Capital Goods

Opportunity to Outcome: Progress and the Paradox of Past Success in Japan's Evolving Venture Environment

Innovation in Japan after the Financial Crisis: The Transition from TechnoNationalism to TechnoRealism

Innovation and Crisis in Asia