Bringing producer and consumer debates together, "Geographic Information: Value, Pricing, Production, and Consumption" provides a coherent perspective on what have become emotional and territorial issues of IPR protection and liberation. This book addresses a range of issues relating to GI, from its definition, purpose, and use to how GI affects individuals, organizations, and governments. It examines business issues including pricing, exploitation, competition, and IPR in private, commercial, and public domain environments. It also introduces a detailed case study that shows how the GI collection and dissemination policies affect regional and global environmental monitoring programs.