Privacy, Intellectual Property, and Hacking: Evaluating Free Access Arguments

Abstract

Before considering the hacking and “free-access” position, I will present several arguments in support of privacy and intellectual property. If these arguments are compelling, then a moral presumption in favor of controlling personal information and intangible works will have been established. Next three arguments typically given by hackers and those who champion the “free-access” view will be considered. After a presentation and analysis, I will argue that the hacker position about information access and control is not strong enough to override the moral presumptions in favor of intellectual property and privacy – “information should not be free.”