Canned searches created for the majority of subject fields and keyword searching within the Dynaweb interface will enhance the ability of the researchers to pinpoint subject-selected advertisements. Although many of the issues related to reproducing copyrighted materials on the Internet have not been clearly resolved in the larger community, we had an immediate need to determine and deal with the most obvious intellectual property issues in order to make this project happen. Based on our consultation with University counsel and experts in the advertising industry, we decided to build the project on the assumption that ads dated before 1920 were in the public domain. Anything after that date would require permission from the originating company before we could include it in our web site. The boom is followed by bust for many companies as standards shift, market bases are consolidated and capital is required for further development of products.
Companies die, are acquired, disband, or thrive and possibly change their product lines.
Addressing Company concerns Once contacted, companies raised various problems and concerns in having their products included in the on-line project. Lack of record management by the companies resulted in confusion over ownership of ads, ownership of subsidiary companies, etc. Fear of the World Wide Web was a concern for many companies as well. Each company handled the copyright request differently, and many companies requested that certain contact and copyright information be presented with each image. Denial of permission to use a company's advertisement images created a different presentation issue.