“Does the Law Support Inventors or Investors?“, New York Times (Oct. 10, 2012):
Introduction
In a report in The New York Times this week, judges, scholars and executives said that in technology fields, “the marketplace for new ideas has been corrupted by software patents used as destructive weapons.” But certainly the protections for intellectual property – like pharmaceuticals, movies and other inventions – also fuel creativity, in part by giving investors enough confidence to open their wallets.
On balance, does intellectual property law encourage or discourage innovation?
This debate includes 6 debaters:
Debaters
Bad Uses of Good Laws
When intellectual property law works in one area, lawyers stretch it to another. Even when this fails, the laws are hard to get rid of.
Copyright Rules and the Art They Inspire
Rather than limiting creativity, the constraints of “fair use” make my poems better.
It’s Not Just Laws, but Also Private-Sector Rules
Publishers’ new restrictions and charges could slow the progress of every academic field, even if the law itself does not.
When the Law Is Not Just for Oligarchs
Intellectual property law can be written and enforced to foster future innovation, not primarily to reward past victories.
A Centuries-Old System, and It Works
If the U.S. is to continue to be innovative, it must enforce patent rights — just as our founding fathers envisioned.
We Can Work It Out
The law is a fundamental piece of infrastructure that shapes our innovation landscape. It’s how we use it that’s critical.
