【小阅读^大脑袋】0825 NO.405

Intellectual property (IP) is a product of the mind that has commercial value. The concept dates back to 1623 when the first patent law to protect IP rights was passed. IP rights protect the artist from having his/her creative ideas copied by another. For example, if somebody generated an idea for a novel, that idea is protected by IP rights. If someone else wishes to represent the idea or develop it further, he/ she must consult the original artists, who will normally be rewarded financially for its use. Back in the 17th century, IP rights were primarily carried out to protect newly developed manufacturing processes against stealing. But today, intellectual property rights, are also enjoyed by those who creative music, art and literature.

In recent years, IP rights have been the focus of a great deal of discussion because of a technology which looks set to weaken them altogether, the Internet. Many years ago, if you wanted a recording of a song, you would have to purchase it from a music store; if a novel, from a book store. In those days, IP rights were easily protected since it was very difficult to obtain intellectual property without paying for it. However, a lot of IP, including songs, films, books and artwork, can be downloaded today free of charge using the Internet. This practice has now taken the world by storm, dramatically affecting the way in which we view IP rights.
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答案解析：
1. According to the writer, in the beginning, IP rights were mainly of use to ______.
A. those creating music, art and literature
B. novelists
C. engineers and inventors
D. those not receiving financial reward for their work
解析：C正确
作者说刚开始的时候知识产权主要用于哪里？
Back in the 17th century, IP rights were primarily carried out to protect newly developed manufacturing processes against stealing主要用来保护新研发出的制造工艺或者制造法。哪个行业会有这样的产物呢？可以从选项中删选出来。

 

2. What do we know about the internet according to the passage?
A. It makes IP rights harder to protect.
B. It sells songs and films.
C. It does not affect the way we understand IP rights.
D. It prevents the production of artwork.
解析：A正确
我们对英特网的了解是什么》
IP rights have been the focus of a great deal of discussion because of a technology which looks set to weaken them altogether, the Internet.英特网削弱了知识产权的保护力度。

3. According to paragraph 2, what has “taken the world by storm”?
A. Intellectual property rights.
B. The Internet.
C. Free downloading.
D. The large number of songs, films and books.
解析：C正确
根据第二段，什么“taken the world by storm”？
This practice has now taken the world by storm那么这个practice指代什么呢？前文说到许多智慧财产，包括歌曲，电影，书籍和艺术品，现在都可以在网上免费下载。正是因为可以免费下载才造成了很大的变化，我们要找出这个直接原因。Practice一般指代的是一种行为

参考译文：
知识所有权（IP）是一种具有商业价值的智力成果。这一概念产生于1623年，当时第一部保护知识所有权的专利法诞生。知识产权保护艺术家的创意不被其他人剽窃。例如，如果一个人构思了一部小说，那个思路就受到了知识产权的保护。如果别人希望陈述该观点或是进一步研究，必须征得原始作者的同意，一般原作者会得到版权费。早在17世纪，知识产权的主要保护对象是新研发出的制造工艺。但是现在，知识产权同样用于保护创造性的音乐，艺术和文学。

近些年来，知识产权一直处于争议中心，因为一项技术的出现似乎削弱了知识产权的力量，那就是英特网。许多年前，如果你想要一首歌曲的录音，就要去音像店买；如果你想要本小说，就要到书店买。那时候，知识产权容易保障，因为要想不付钱就得到智力成果非常难。然而，许多知识财产，包括歌曲，电影，书籍和艺术品，现在都可以在网上免费下载。这种下载行为风靡全世界，极大地影响了我们对知识产权的看法。

 

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词汇及短语：
Intellectual property: 知识产权
英文为“intellectual property”，德文为“Gestiges Eigentum”，其原意均为“知识（财产)所有权”或者“智慧（财产）所有权”，也称为智力成果权。在中国台湾，则称之为智慧财产权。根据我国《民法通则》的规定，知识产权属于民事权利，是基于创造性智力成果和工商业标记依法产生的权利的统称。有学者考证，该词最早于17世纪中叶由法国学者卡普佐夫提出，后为比利时著名法学家皮卡第所发展，皮卡第将之定义为“一切来自知识活动的权利”。
知识产权是指对智力劳动成果依法所享有的占有、使用、处分和收益的权利。知识产权是一种无形财产，它与房屋、汽车等有形财产一样，都受到国家法律的保护，都具有价值和使用价值。有些重大专利、驰名商标或作品的价值也远远高于房屋、汽车等有形财产。
Patent：专利, 专利权
represent: 陈述；阐述；指出；主张
weaken: (使)削弱 , (使)变弱
recording: 记录;录音;录像
take by storm: 使大为轰动
例：The play took Paris by storm.
该剧在巴黎大为轰动。