TrendAlert: The Global Copyright Infringement Pandemic – A First-Aid Kit For Enterprise Information Management Functions

Authors: Anthea Stratigos, Co-founder & CEO; David Curle, Director & Lead Analyst

This Briefing looks at fresh Outsell data showing the widespread copyright infringement pandemic that grows every day, and the risks it poses for information management functions. Over 56 billion documents are forwarded around the planet each year by ordinary knowledge workers, and the tools for finding, copying, and sharing information have only multiplied in recent months. The Briefing puts some hard data behind our perception of the problem's scope, and looks at some of the implications for both commercial content providers and information managers. The bottom line is that the information industry has failed to draw clear and consistent boundaries around the information it produces, and the responses of information managers, content companies, and industry associations have been fragmented and ineffective to date. For information managers, the infringement pandemic is a risk management issue that can't be ignored. The Briefing concludes with a set of Imperatives for Information Managers focusing on education, systematic compliance efforts, and tracking user behavior as part of a comprehensive response.