IP justifications

1. IP Justifications
Claudia Roggero

2. Theory: Justifications for
Intellectual Property
 Bainbridge, Intellectual Property,
pg 17 & pgs 347-351
 ‘Philosophy of Copyright’, Simon
Newman, thesis (on Blackboard)
 The three main theories have their
roots in three different but connected
revolutions. All three are
‘individualist’ in character.

3. Incentive/Reward Theory
 “Encourage innovation through
reward”
 18th
century
 Utilitarianism – Bentham
 American Revolution - Used in
Constitution of the United States
 Favoured by Economists
 Suggests IP rights should have a
limited scope

4. Property Rights
 Intellectual Property as analogous to other
(physical) property. A ‘Natural Right’
(later, Human Right)
 17th
century – Glorious Revolution 1688
 John Locke – “Labour Theory” of property
 Favoured by IP rights holders, especially
Corporations
 Suggests IP rights should be essentially
absolute and unlimited

5. Personality Rights
 IP as an expression of the creators’
personality or spirit
 A ‘Natural Right’ in one’s own personality
 18th
century – Rousseau – French
Revolution – Inalienable Rights of Man
(Human Rights)
 Implies a very strong degree of protection,
but high barrier - only works that are a
genuine expression of authors’
personality deserve protection

6. Arguments against (Modern)
Intellectual Property Rights
 Individualist –
 Free Access to Knowledge
 Free Expression.
 “Information wants to be free”
 GNU/Linux. Stallman. Electronic
Frontier Foundation (EFF)

7. Communitarian Objections
 Group Rights
 Cultural Property – Cultural Heritage –
Elgin Marbles
 Indigenous Peoples - Religious Art
(copyright) – Aboriginal works (Australia)
 Traditional Plant Remedies (Biotech
Patents).
 Poor countries can’t afford expensive
(patented) drugs

8. No crisis of legitimacy yet?
 IP Rights are expanding worldwide
 Governments race to maximum
protection
 ‘Cultural Marxist’ (Political
Correctness) critiques seem muted
in this ‘black letter’ field
 Individualist critics have so far not
been effective.

9. Some References
 W. Fisher Theories of Intellectual Property, Chapter 6 in New Essays in the Legal and
Political Theory of Property (S. Munzer ed., Cambridge University Press, 2001) (or try
at: http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/people/tfisher/iptheory.pdf#search=%22W.%20Fisher
%20Theories%20of%20Intellectual%20Property%2C%22 )
 E. Hettinger Justifying Intellectual Property (1989) 18 Philosophy & Public Affairs 31 –
52
 L. S. Paine Trade Secrets & the Justification of Intellectual Property: a comment on
Hettinger (1991) 20 Philosophy & Public Affairs 247 –263
 (These two articles can be accessed through the library on-line databases)
 J. Hughes The Philosophy of Intellectual Property (1988) 77 Georgetown L.J. 287 – a
partial version dealing with Lockean Property Justification is available at:
http://www.law.harvard.edu/Academic_Affairs/coursepages/tfisher/music/Hughes198
8.html
 H. M. Spector An Outline of a Theory Justifying Intellectual and Industrial Property
Rights (1989) 8 EIPR 270 –273
 Burkitt, Daniel; Copyrighting Culture - The History and Cultural Specificity of the
Western Model of Copyright, Intellectual Property Quarterly I.P.Q. 2001, 2, 146-186
(available via Westlaw)

10. Some References
 W. Fisher Theories of Intellectual Property, Chapter 6 in New Essays in the Legal and
Political Theory of Property (S. Munzer ed., Cambridge University Press, 2001) (or try
at: http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/people/tfisher/iptheory.pdf#search=%22W.%20Fisher
%20Theories%20of%20Intellectual%20Property%2C%22 )
 E. Hettinger Justifying Intellectual Property (1989) 18 Philosophy & Public Affairs 31 –
52
 L. S. Paine Trade Secrets & the Justification of Intellectual Property: a comment on
Hettinger (1991) 20 Philosophy & Public Affairs 247 –263
 (These two articles can be accessed through the library on-line databases)
 J. Hughes The Philosophy of Intellectual Property (1988) 77 Georgetown L.J. 287 – a
partial version dealing with Lockean Property Justification is available at:
http://www.law.harvard.edu/Academic_Affairs/coursepages/tfisher/music/Hughes198
8.html
 H. M. Spector An Outline of a Theory Justifying Intellectual and Industrial Property
Rights (1989) 8 EIPR 270 –273
 Burkitt, Daniel; Copyrighting Culture - The History and Cultural Specificity of the
Western Model of Copyright, Intellectual Property Quarterly I.P.Q. 2001, 2, 146-186
(available via Westlaw)