Description: Brown documents the efforts of indigenous peoples to redefine heritage as a proprietary resource. By focusing on the complexity of actual cases, he casts light on indigenous claims in diverse fields--religion, art, sacred places, and botanical knowledge. He proposes alternative strategies for defending the heritage of vulnerable native communities.
Brief description: Michael F. Brown is President of the School for Advanced Research, Santa Fe.
Review Quotes: Every once in a while critical reason triumphs over political correctness and identity politics, and the result can be exhilarating. Michael F. Brown, who is the Lambert professor of anthropology and Latin American studies at Williams College and knows more about intellectual property law than most legal scholars, has written a brave, logical and even witty book about some of the hazards and challenges of cultural heritage protection.--Richard A. Shweder "New York Times Book Review" (9/14/2003 12:00:00 AM)