Against Monopoly
defending the right to innovate
Monopoly corrupts. Absolute monopoly corrupts absolutely.
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Podcast
Russell Roberts and Michele Boldrin having a conversation about David's and my book.
[Posted at 05/19/2009 09:29 AM by Michele Boldrin on Against IM 
comments(3)]
Comments
Nice to see Russ is coming around to your point of view. I'm with you and Russ
[Comment at 05/19/2009 12:40 PM by tom]
Due to the Cafe Hayek post about the podcast, I read "Against Intellectual Monopoly" (the online version). Good book! It certainly corroborates my experiences with getting and fighting patents and also copyrights and I don't disagree with its conclusions (though I personally would just reduce the term for patents and copyrights and see what happens).
I was surprised that the book seemed to purposely ignore or even exclude the natural human drive to create. For many people, creating and innovating comes as naturally as breathing.
Also, the question of whether or not things like music and fiction are so important to society that we should encourage their production anyway. If they happen, great, if not, perhaps those resources would be better spent on other activities.
[Comment at 05/20/2009 03:34 PM by Bret]
I have just written a post about your interview. Basically, what I am saying is that in Bolivia, IP law is almost non-existent and it would be a nice place to test your premise.
Musicians in Bolivia, not the music labels, are less prone to creativity now than
when piracy was not as extended as it is now.
[Comment at 05/29/2009 03:19 PM by Ernesto]
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Most Recent Comments
IP is not a joke Bill:
Absolutely. Parody and satire are protected under fair use. Mad Magazine (among many
at 02/09/2010 05:41 AM by Anonymous
IP is not a joke Couldn't it be used under the fair use
at 02/08/2010 03:22 PM by Bill Stepp
Goldman does in AIG, you, and me Predatory Lending is a major contributor to the economic turmoil we are currently
at 02/08/2010 03:07 PM by jmb27
Common Sense Seth - I'm not sure how your comment @ 5:57pm casts any illumination on your earlier position. If I
at 02/08/2010 02:03 PM by Justin Levine
Lessig: Congress is broken and Obama has failed Anon, state granted monopolies are effectively licenses for corporations to collect taxes on
at 02/08/2010 01:50 PM by Crosbie Fitch
Lessig: Congress is broken and Obama has failed It does seem strange to me that when we are faced with the possibility of a 23 trillion dollar
at 02/08/2010 01:18 PM by Anonymous
The Patent, Copyright, Trademark, and Trade Secret Horror Files Fred, I recognise that 'natural monopoly' may have a more specialised meaning for economists, and
at 02/08/2010 07:19 AM by Crosbie Fitch
Lessig: Congress is broken and Obama has failed Fred, I'm doing something immediately. I'm working on the Contingency Market. this is something
at 02/08/2010 06:53 AM by Crosbie Fitch
The Patent, Copyright, Trademark, and Trade Secret Horror Files @Crosbie: I agree *natural monopolies* do exist, despite any tendency for SK and Bill Stepp to shut
at 02/07/2010 10:21 PM by Fred McTaker
Lessig: Congress is broken and Obama has failed I thank John Bennett for this post, and for the quality of his posts here in general. I've been
at 02/07/2010 09:02 PM by Fred McTaker