Trading digital information goods based on semantic technologies

Digital information goods constitute a growing class of economic goods. During decision making for a purchase a buyer searches for information about digital information goods, such as information about the content, price and trading information, usage information, how it can be presented, and which legal restrictions apply. We present a logical container model for knowledge-intensive digital information goods (knowledge content object KCO) that directly references formalised semantic descriptions of key information types on information goods. Key information types are formalised as plug-in slots (facets). Facets can be instantiated by semantic descriptions that are linked with domain ontologies. We have identified six logically congruent facet types by which a user can interpret information goods. KCOs are mediated and managed by a technical middleware, called Knowledge Content Carrier Architecture KCCA. Based on the technical and logical structure of a KCO we will discuss five economic implications that drive further research.