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2006-12-12

One way to stimulate online problem-solving may be in the changing notion of intellectual property rights. Open source software, digital distribution, and globally instant access to information is changing they way we look at sharing creative output, and creative output in an open environment might be a great resource to assist in addressing difficult challenges.

Culturally, most westerners have deep-seated beliefs about their property and what others can do with it. However, the very nature of what constitutes intellectual property in the digital age and the near-zero-cost of duplication and distribution suggests we consider exploring the fringes of our firmly held, yet potentially quaint notions of property rights. In our heads and hearts, we have confused the notion of ‘fairness’ with the legal structures of copyright and patents. It may surprise people to know that the legal structures in place around intellectual property rights are not there to promote fairness per se, but rather to stimulate innovation, economic growth and benefit society at large by leveraging the controls of protection and use.

It is from these protections that we culturally have reinforced what fairness means, not the other way around. For example, if you grew up in a society that firmly reinforced the fairness of sharing, then you might find it ‘unfair’ when a property owner tried to control how their property was used by others.