Description:
Most scholarship on intellectual property considers this law from the standpoint of law and economics. Under this conventional wisdom, intellectual property is simply a tool for promoting innovative products, from iPods to R2D2. In this highly original book Madhavi Sunder calls for a richer understanding of intellectual property law's effects on social and cultural life. Intellectual property does more than incentivize the production of more goods. This law fundamentally affects the ability of citizens to live a good life. Intellectual property law governs the abilities of human beings to make and share culture, and to profit from this enterprise in a global Knowledge economy. This book turns to social and cultural theory to more fully explore the deep connections between cultural production and human freedom.
Review Quotes:
"Madhavi Sunder's passionate and fascinating book should be required reading for everyone concerned about the future of cultural property in
our increasingly globalized world. With her deft use of examples, her rich knowledge of many world cultures, and her broad vision of how law
can enhance human freedom, Sunder argues that one traditional focus of intellectual property law, economic efficiency, is too narrow. Efficiency is one important goal, but we should also consider how law affects people's capacity to participate in cultural production, to criticize tradition, and to pursue values of autonomy and mutual recognition. Equally valuable for experts and the general public, this book will reshape the entire debate about culture as property."--Martha Nussbaum, Law School, Philosophy Department, and Divinity School, The University of Chicago--Martha Nussbaum