Intellectual Property Right Regimes, Firms and the Commodification of Knowledge

29 Pages Posted: 30 Jul 2009

See all articles by Benjamin Coriat

Benjamin Coriat

Université Paris XIII Nord

Olivier Weinstein

Université Paris XIII Nord

Date Written: July 29, 2009

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyse the evolution of the intellectual property regime, and more precisely the patent regime, in the USA, since the 19th century. To do so, we shall consider intellectual property within the context of general transformations in capitalism, focusing on two main historical phases. Firstly, the period covering the formation and development of 'corporate capitalism' dominated by large corporations. And then the new phase, which opened up in the 1980s, marked by the rise to power of finance. From a perspective of institutional complementarities, we seek to show how the characteristics and implications of IPR regimes can only be understood in relation to transformations in the main institutional forms of capitalism: forms of the firm, the status of labour (the 'wage-labour nexus'), and market forms.

Keywords: intellectual property, patent, knowledge, corporate capitalism, firm, market, financiarisation, institutional complementarities.

JEL Classification: O34, P1

Suggested Citation

Coriat, Benjamin and Weinstein, Olivier, Intellectual Property Right Regimes, Firms and the Commodification of Knowledge (July 29, 2009). CLPE Research Paper No. 17/2009, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1440866 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1440866

Benjamin Coriat (Contact Author)

Université Paris XIII Nord ( email )

Avenue Jean Baptiste Clement
Villetaneuse, Seine Saint Denis 93430
France

Olivier Weinstein

Université Paris XIII Nord ( email )

Avenue Jean Baptiste Clement
Villetaneuse, Seine Saint Denis 93430
France

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