Against Intellectual Monopoly (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780521879286)

"Intellectual property" - patents and copyrights - have become controversial. We witness teenagers being sued for "pirating" music - and we observe AIDS patients in Africa dying due to lack of ability to pay for drugs that are high priced to satisfy patent holders. Are patents and copyrights essential to thriving creation and innovation - do we need them so that we all may enjoy fine music and good health? Across time and space the resounding answer is: No. So-called intellectual property is in fact an "intellectual monopoly" that hinders rather than helps the competitive free market regime that has delivered wealth and innovation to our doorsteps. This book has broad coverage of both copyrights and patents and is designed for a general audience, focusing on simple examples. The authors conclude that the only sensible policy to follow is to eliminate the patents and copyright systems as they currently exist.

Author: Michele Boldrin, Daivd K. Levine
ISBN-10: 0521879280
ISBN-13: 9780521879286
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Language: English
Published: 07/07/2008
Pages: 312
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.20lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.30w x 1.00d

Review Citation(s):
Chronicle of Higher Education 09/12/2008 pg. 19