Although mankind has recognized "intellectual property" (IP) as a valuable asset for the last several centuries, if not longer, a number of technological inventions over the years have escalated the intensity of discussions and debates about the topic. Things changed substantially, for example, when Gutenberg introduced the printing press; they changed again when Edison's phonograph made it possible to record music, and when cameras made it possible to record still pictures and movies. Obviously, the computer accelerated this phenomenon, by making it possible to digitize most popular forms of information and reproduce them at a nominal cost. And now the Internet has come along, making it possible to disseminate and distribute information around the world at the click of a mouse. Certainly it's not fair to suggest that the computer or the Internet caused the fuss about IP, but they have substantially raised our level of awareness about the risks, issues, and opposing viewpoints about the topic.