Against Intellectual Monopoly
Economic<br>and Game Theory
Against Intellectual Monopoly
by Michele Boldrin<br>and David K. Levine
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"Monopoly<br>corrupts, absolute monopoly corrupts absolutely."
[this version November 11, 2005]
[see the newer version January 22, 2007]
It is common to argue that intellectual property in the form<br>of copyright and patent is necessary for the innovation and creation of<br>ideas and inventions such as machines, drugs, computer<br>software, books, music, literature and movies. In fact intellectual<br>property is not like ordinary property at all, but constitutes a<br>government grant of a costly and dangerous<br>private monopoly over ideas. We show through theory and example<br>that intellectual monopoly is not neccesary for innovation and as a<br>practical matter is damaging to<br>growth, prosperity and liberty.
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Creation Under Competition
Chapter 3: How Competition Works
Chapter 4: Innovation Without Patents
Chapter 5: The Intellectual Monopoly Apologists
Chapter 6: The Evil of Intellectual Monopoly
Chapter 7: The Devil in Disney
Chapter 8: Does Intellectual Monopoly Increase Innovation?
Chapter 9: The Pharmaceutical Industry
Chapter 10: The Bad, the Good, and the Ugly
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10