Against intellectual property

Authors

Brian Martin, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

74538

Publication Details

Martin, B. (1999). 'Against intellectual property', in P. Drahos (Eds.), Intellectual Property (pp. 517-532). Aldershot, UK: Dartmouth.

Link to publisher version (URL)

Dartmouth

Abstract

There is a strong case for opposing intellectual property. There are a number of negative consequences of the ownership of information, such as retarding of innovation and exploitation of poor countries. Most of the usual arguments for intellectual property do not hold up under scrutiny. In particular, the metaphor of the marketplace of ideas provides no justification for ownership of ideas. The alternative to intellectual property is that intellectual products not be owned, as in the case of everyday language. Strategies against intellectual property include civil disobedience, promotion of non-owned information, and fostering of a more cooperative society.