Mastering Principles of the Multimedia Legal Game

First Comprehensive and Understandable Guide to the Law of Multimedia

"Don't let this guide wander too far. If you are serious about the issues
involved in merging code and content, you will want this guide to be
nearby." -- From the Foreword by Ken Wasch, Executive Director of the
Software Publishers Association

October 24, 1994 (Reading, MA) - The Software Publishers Association "Legal
Guide to Multimedia" by Thomas J. Smedinghoff, just released from
Addison-Wesley, will help multimedia developers and publishers navigate
the tangled landscape of legal issues and requirements posed by
integrating content from different industries in digital form. Readers
will refer to this book for solutions to the legal challenges of the
rapidly growing medium of multimedia.

The only one of its kind on the market, The Software Publishers Association
"Legal Guide to Multimedia" is an up-to-date comprehensive explanation and
review of the law that applies to the emerging medium of multimedia.
Developed by a leading expert on the law, in conjunction with the
principal trade association for the PC and multimedia industry, the book
provides a complete and comprehensive summary of all of the legal issues
involved in developing, protecting, and distributing multimedia works.

Written to simplify the maze of copyright, trademark, trade secret, patent,
the book is also supplemented with extensive footnotes for the experienced
attorney.

The Software Publishers Association "Legal Guide to Multimedia" will help
readers to navigate the legal issues raised by the application of this law
to the new interactive digital medium of multimedia.

The book addresses issues such as how to:

* license content of all kinds, from text and characters to
  music and video
* determine when preexisting content can be used without
  permission
* contract-with independent developers to help create multimedia
  products
* ensure ownership of the rights to the multimedia products
  developed
* register the copyright for multimedia products
* protect the copyright, trademark, trade secret and patent
  rights in multimedia works
* license multimedia titles for distribution.

With this definitive book comes a complimentary disk, complete with dozens
of checklists and template agreements to assist in addressing the legal
issues and relationships necessary to develop, protect, and market
multimedia products.

Thomas Smedinghoff is a partner at the Chicago law firm of McBride Baker &
Coles, and serves as intellectual property counsel to the Software
Publishers Association. He is also the author of "The Legal Guide to
Developing, Protecting and Marketing Software" (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,
1986) and the "SPA Guide to Contracts and the Legal Protection of
Software" (Software Publishers Association, 1993). The Software Publishers
Association "Legal Guide to Multimedia" is available from your local
bookstore at a suggested retail price of $44.95.

The Software Publishers Association is the principal trade association of
the PC software industry. Its 1,100 members represent the leading
publishers in the business, consumer, and education markets. The SPA has
offices in Washington, DC, and Paris, France. SPA press releases are
available on-line through CompuServe (GO:SPAFORUM), and from SPA's faxback
service at 800 637-6823.

Software Publishers Association
1730 M St, Northwest, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20036
202-452-1600,  Fax: 202-223-8756

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