[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: Reason on copyright and censorship



This article makes the case against IP.  The author, until recently, taught
in the Philosophy department here at UNC.

James



"It would be interesting to discover how far a seriously critical view of
the benefits to society of the law of copyright ... would have a chance of
being publicly stated in a society in which the channels of expression are
so largely controlled by people who have a vested interest in the existing
situation."

- Friedrich A. Hayek, "The Intellectuals and Socialism"



The Libertarian Case Against Intellectual Property Rights

by Roderick T. Long

A Dispute Among Libertarians

The status of intellectual property rights (copyrights, patents, and the
like) is an issue that has long divided libertarians. Such libertarian
luminaries as Herbert Spencer, Lysander Spooner, and Ayn Rand have been
strong supporters of intellectual property rights. Thomas Jefferson, on the
other hand, was ambivalent on the issue, while radical libertarians like
Benjamin Tucker in the last century and Tom Palmer in the present one have
rejected intellectual property rights altogether.

When libertarians of the first sort come across a purported intellectual
property right, they see one more instance of an individual's rightful claim
to the product of his labor. When libertarians of the second sort come
across a purported intellectual property right, they see one more instance
of undeserved monopoly privilege granted by government.

I used to be in the first group. Now I am in the second. I'd like to explain
why I think intellectual property rights are unjustified, and how the
legitimate ends currently sought through the expedient of intellectual
property rights might be secured by other, voluntary means.

Cont.

http://www.freenation.org/fnf/a/f31l1.html





----- Original Message -----
From: Paul Jones <pjones@MetaLab.unc.edu>
To: <inls310-74@ruby.ils.unc.edu>
Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2000 5:50 PM
Subject: Reason on copyright and censorship


> I've always wondered where groups like Reason Magazine would draw the
> copyright line. At first, it seemed like a property issue clear and simple
> in which the conservative and libertarian's would have a strong tendency
> to protect property -- or be strong on copyright and patents. but it's not
> so simple as this article points out "How intellectual property laws
> stifle popular culture" http://www.reason.com/0003/fe.jw.copy.html
> As someone who has brought culture hackers, Negativland
> (www.negativland.com), round to talk about the reuse of cultural
> materials, I'm impressed by the changes in attitude here or maybe I missed
> something the first time by.
> It's a provocative read.
>
> ==========================================================================
>                              Paul Jones
>    "We must protect our precious bodily fluids!" General Jack D Ripper
> http://MetaLab.unc.edu/pjones/ at the Site Formerly Known As
SunSITE.unc.edu
>   pjones@MetaLab.unc.edu   voice: (919) 962-7600     fax: (919) 962-8071
>
===========================================================================
>