This presentation was given by Philip Nolan as part of the 'Semantic Web: From Research to Reality Seminar' which was held on the 25th of November 2009 at the offices of Mason Hayes+Curran in Dublin. The seminar was organised by the Irish Software Association in association with Mason Hayes+Curran and the Digital Enterprise Research Institute (DERI).

1. The Semantic Web:
Commercial Prospects and Legal Challenges
Philip Nolan
Partner and Head of Commercial Department,
Mason Hayes+Curran
25th November 2009

3. Overview
The Semantic Web at a glance
Legal Challenges
Case Studies

4. Semantic Web at a Glance (1)
“Smart” data versus “Dumb” data
Machine-readable metadata
A web of data
Existing web technologies inefficient at extracting meaningful information
From the desktop into the network

5. Semantic Web at a Glance (2) – The Semantic Web Stack
Commercial
realisation
Initial
Investment

6. Semantic Web at a Glance (3) - Industries
Life sciences
Health care
Public administration
Internet search engines
Electronic communications
Broadcasting
Online social networking (FOAF)

7. Semantic Web at a Glance (4) - Corporate Users
BT
Oracle New York Times
Boeing
BBC
Yahoo!

8. Case Study 1: Clinical research and Drug Discovery

9. Case Study 2: Proprietary Ontologies

10. Case Study 3: Digital Rights Management and Media

11. Legal Challenges (1): Inferences Context and Defamation
Defamation
Inferences
Context
Publisher
Disclaimers

12. Legal Challenges (2): Data Protection in the Web of Data
Background
Universal consent
Analogy with cookies
Consent as agent
Inferred Personal Data

13. Legal Challenges (3): Friend of a Friend (FOAF)
Background
Conventional social networking
Requirement for regulation of access
Usage rights
Restriction of information

14. Conclusions

15. A simple illustration of the Semantic Web!

16. Questions

17. The Semantic Web:
Commercial Prospects and Legal Challenges
Philip 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.