Intellectual Property

[mikesown]

Most libertarians have very clear positions on the majority of issues: get the government off your back. However, one issue which (in my opinion) is a difficult one is that of intellectual property. How should intellectual property be defined? Should a patent office exist? If so, should the patents be infinite and transferable after you die? If not, when should patents end? What are Ron Paul's views on intellectual property?

 

[Matt Collins]

This is one area where libertarianism tends to conflict with Constitutionalism. The Constitution specifically mentions that creative works of art and inventions/science can be protected by the Federal government.

I as a libertarian dont really have a big problem with this because it does indeed allow artists, inventors and scientists to have their work protected for a period of time which allows them to recoup their investment and make a profit. That of course gives incentive for research and art.

However I do have a problem with Congress bending over forward for the mega corps (such as the MPAA/RIAA and Disney specifically) to continue to increase the IP terms to beyond what I would consider reasonable lengths. Every time SteamBoat Willie comes up to get into the public domain Disney always lobbies to have the term extended so that no one else can use Mickey's image, likeness, etc.

 

[Bryan]

Welcome to the fourm- these threads may help some:

Issue: Intellectual Property Rights: Copyrights
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=1811

Issue: Intellectual Property Rights: questions about Paul's stance on DRM
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=3175

Issue: Intellectual Property Rights: Intellectual property reform
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=748

 

[Matt Collins]

LOL - yes, the search function works these days so hopefully we won't have as many duplicate threads

 

[murrayrothbard]

"Intellectual-property" is an oxymoron. But yes there is major disagreement on this subject amongst "libertarians".

In regards to the anti-IP position see:

In Defense of Napster and Against the Second Homesteading Rule

and

Against Intellectual Property

This issue probably has nothing to do with RP's campaign though...