Legal issues in the collection, fusion and storage of data. (November 2001)

The collection and manipulation of data has increased over time. The information obtained by fusing datasets is far greater than the sum of the individual components. These two factors, coupled with the introduction of EU Directives on rights in databases and data protection (for individuals) has increased the protection of data over and above any which would have been available under copyright laws. There are some basic rights in intellectual property that are the same in many national laws, however even within the EU, member states do not have common copyright laws. To exploit information questions arise of who owns which rights in the data, what rights can be assigned, any national laws which preclude certain terms in any contract, and does the final product contravene any laws? Urban areas are, by their very nature, concentrations of data and information, consequently to understand the relationship between data fusion and legal issues is more important, and more difficult than in other areas.