Undermining Abundance (Counter-Productive Uses of Technology and Law in Nature, Agriculture and the Information Sector)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE, Gaelle Krikorian and Amy Kapczynski, eds., Zone Books, Forthcoming
26 Pages Posted: 9 Nov 2008 Last revised: 14 Nov 2008
Date Written: July 14, 2008
Abstract
Technology and law are increasingly used to undermine processes of abundance intrinsic to nature, agriculture and the information sector. A number of examples are reviewed here. Such counter-productive use of technology and law is traced to corporate profit-seeking. The relationships between the phenomenon of abundance and the related concepts of scarcity and commons are explored. Finally, approaches are proposed that harness abundance for the human good.
Keywords: abundance, scarcity, commons, political economy
JEL Classification: P16, H41, N5, O34, Q10, Q20, Q30, Q40,
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation