Some insight here:
While Objectivists, libertarians and conservatives strongly agree on the principle of physical property rights, the picture is much more divided when it comes to ‘intellectual property’, a catch-all phrase for several different items, including patents, copyright and trademarks. In a landmark essay by Stephan Kinsella, Against Intellectual Property, argues that ‘Intellectual property’ is not only meaningless and harmful, it is in direct violation of the general principle of private property, and primarily constitutes a state-sanctioned creation of artificial scarcity, leading ultimately to poverty, not job creation and wealth.
The wider libertarian movement accepted the argument, put it into action (see www.mises.org/books) and moved on. Objectivists, on the other hand, maintain that what Ayn Rand spoke and practiced on the subject remains the unalterable truth.
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The catch-all phrase “intelectual property” is most definitely mercantilistic. I wonder if as part of her zeal (and of her followers) to keep her works under strict scrutinnee is the reason why objectivists rationalize the whole IP issue.
“. . . leading ultimately to poverty, not job creation and wealth.”
Wouldn’t know it.
“The wider libertarian movement accepted the argument”
What? Is anyone who disagrees an “IP denier” equivalent to a holocaust denier?
Jesus H. Christ.
J. Neil Schulman, author
Informational Property: Logorights
at http://jneilschulman.rationalreview.com/2009/12/classic-j-neil-informational-property-logorights/
J. Neil Schulman wrote of “The wider libertarian movement accepted the argument”, ‘What? Is anyone who disagrees an “IP denier” equivalent to a holocaust denier?’
No, that’s overstating it. Rather, anyone who currently disagrees is not typical of the wider group – no more and no less. It’s not as though that would trigger a torrent of abuse, given the nature of that group, although of course such a person might not like the initiatives the others took.
I’m very much interested in emerging myself into libertarian view of intelectual property rights. Where I can find comprehensive compendium on this subject?
“The wider libertarian movement accepted the argument, put it into action (see mises.org/books) and moved on. ” is not really helping
Boniek,
Here is a good start:
http://mises.org/daily/3682
Also, I recommend this book:
http://mises.org/books/against.pdf
“No, that’s overstating it. Rather, anyone who currently disagrees is not typical of the wider group – no more and no less. It’s not as though that would trigger a torrent of abuse, given the nature of that group, although of course such a person might not like the initiatives the others took.”
Really? Where have you been hanging out?
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