The Semantic Web: The Semantic Web: The Semantic Web: The Semantic Web:

Commercial Prospects and Legal ChallengesCommercial Prospects and Legal ChallengesCommercial Prospects and Legal ChallengesCommercial Prospects and Legal Challenges

Philip NolanPhilip NolanPhilip NolanPhilip Nolan

Partner and Head of Commercial Department,

Mason Hayes+Curran

25th November 2009

OverviewOverviewOverviewOverview

The Semantic Web at a glance

Case Studies

Legal Challenges

Semantic Web at a Glance (1)Semantic Web at a Glance (1)Semantic Web at a Glance (1)Semantic Web at a Glance (1)

From the desktop into the network

Existing web technologies inefficient at extracting meaningful information

A web of data

Machine-readable metadata

“Smart” data versus “Dumb” data

Semantic Web at a Glance (2) Semantic Web at a Glance (2) Semantic Web at a Glance (2) Semantic Web at a Glance (2) –––– The Semantic Web StackThe Semantic Web StackThe Semantic Web StackThe Semantic Web Stack

Commercial realisation

Initial Investment

Semantic Web at a Glance (3) Semantic Web at a Glance (3) Semantic Web at a Glance (3) Semantic Web at a Glance (3) ---- IndustriesIndustriesIndustriesIndustries

Online social networking (FOAF)

Broadcasting

Electronic communications

Internet search engines

Public administration

Health care

Life sciences

Semantic Web at a Glance (4) Semantic Web at a Glance (4) Semantic Web at a Glance (4) Semantic Web at a Glance (4) ---- Corporate UsersCorporate UsersCorporate UsersCorporate Users

Boeing

Yahoo!

BBC

New York TimesOracle

BT

Case Study 1: Clinical research and Drug DiscoveryCase Study 1: Clinical research and Drug DiscoveryCase Study 1: Clinical research and Drug DiscoveryCase Study 1: Clinical research and Drug Discovery

Case Study 2: Proprietary Case Study 2: Proprietary Case Study 2: Proprietary Case Study 2: Proprietary OntologiesOntologiesOntologiesOntologies

Case Study 3: Digital Rights Management and MediaCase Study 3: Digital Rights Management and MediaCase Study 3: Digital Rights Management and MediaCase Study 3: Digital Rights Management and Media

Legal Challenges (1): Inferences Context and DefamationLegal Challenges (1): Inferences Context and DefamationLegal Challenges (1): Inferences Context and DefamationLegal Challenges (1): Inferences Context and Defamation

Disclaimers

Inferences

Publisher

Context

Defamation

Legal Challenges (2): Data Protection in the Web of DataLegal Challenges (2): Data Protection in the Web of DataLegal Challenges (2): Data Protection in the Web of DataLegal Challenges (2): Data Protection in the Web of Data

Consent as agent

Analogy with cookies

Universal consent

Background

Inferred Personal Data

Legal Challenges (3): Friend of a Friend (FOAF)Legal Challenges (3): Friend of a Friend (FOAF)Legal Challenges (3): Friend of a Friend (FOAF)Legal Challenges (3): Friend of a Friend (FOAF)

Restriction of information

Usage rights

Conventional social networking

Requirement for regulation of access

Background

ConclusionsConclusionsConclusionsConclusions

A simple illustration of the Semantic Web!A simple illustration of the Semantic Web!A simple illustration of the Semantic Web!A simple illustration of the Semantic Web!

Questions

The Semantic Web: The Semantic Web: The Semantic Web: The Semantic Web:

Commercial Prospects and Legal ChallengesCommercial Prospects and Legal ChallengesCommercial Prospects and Legal ChallengesCommercial Prospects and Legal Challenges

Philip NolanPhilip NolanPhilip NolanPhilip Nolan (Partner and Head of Commercial Department,

Mason Hayes+Curran)

25th November 2009

Notice: This presentation is of a general nature and does not constitute legal advice. Specific advice should

always be sought from your advisors.

© Copyright Philip Nolan, Mason Hayes+Curran November 2009.

All rights reserved.