As Michele indicates in the previous post, we are looking for compelling examples (about three) that we can use in a book introduction to draw in the average reader - convince them that IP is a problem they should be concerned with. In the comments on Michele's post, Michael suggests that it would be helpful if we discuss some candidates. Here goes:

AIDS drugs in Africa

the invention of television (Sarnoff stole it from Farnsworth)

Diebold using the DMCA to cover up the fact their voting machines don't work

the Canadian (?) farmer sued because genetically modified crops got on his property

mp3.com put out of business by RIAA lawsuit

replay TV sued out of existence

destruction of the Italian pharmaceutical industry when patents are introduced

story of the movie Tarnation - cost 0 to make, $400K for music rights

near shutdown of Blackberry network

Quattro pro "look and feel" lawsuit - Lotus versus Borland

why DAT never caught on (due to legally mandated DRM)

why HD DVD probably will never catch on - delayed until obsolete by DRM disputes

the Sony Betamax case

RAMBUS's use of a submarine patent to blackmail the memory chip industry

theft of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell

obstruction of the industrial revolution by James Watt

movement of the chemical industry from England/France/US to Germany/Switzerland due to strong UK type patent system - story of red dye, story of delivery of chemicals to US by U-boat during WWI