Thirty Two Short Stories About Intellectual Property

Hastings Science & Technology Law Journal, Forthcoming

Suffolk University Law School Research Paper No. 10-28

49 Pages Posted: 24 Jun 2010 Last revised: 21 Sep 2010

See all articles by Lorie Graham

Lorie Graham

Suffolk University Law School

Stephen M. McJohn

Suffolk University Law School

Date Written: June 23, 2010

Abstract

In the United States, intellectual property law is usually viewed as serving economics, by providing an incentive for authors and inventors to create works. The incentive policy, however, ill fits the actual contours of intellectual property law and how artists and inventors use it. Adding other approaches offers a fuller explanation. Intellectual property plays a greater role than economic theory suggests in disclosing technology, and in serving to coordinate cultural values in technology. Intellectual property can serve human rights (similar to the moral rights approach in some jurisdictions), by allowing people to control the way that their works are publicly exploited, and by allowing groups (such as indigenous peoples) to implement rights of self-determination, education, and media.

This piece also departs from the typical law review format. In assessing doctrine and theory, deductive reasoning from economic or legal principles is no more important than literary tools, like interpretation and narrative. These points can be illustrated by some stories.

Keywords: intellectual property, patents, trademarks, copyright, human rights, moral rights, fair use, enablement, indigenous people, frontier, internet, literature, narrative, stories

Suggested Citation

Graham, Lorie and McJohn, Stephen M., Thirty Two Short Stories About Intellectual Property (June 23, 2010). Hastings Science & Technology Law Journal, Forthcoming, Suffolk University Law School Research Paper No. 10-28, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1629368 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1629368

Lorie Graham (Contact Author)

Suffolk University Law School ( email )

120 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02108-4977
United States

Stephen M. McJohn

Suffolk University Law School ( email )

120 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02108-4977
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
379
Abstract Views
2,704
Rank
142,971
PlumX Metrics