The recent case of the lost next-generation iPhone prototype can help illustrate the absurdity of intellectual property rights. The basic idea of IP is that information can be owned–patterns, recipes, methods, designs, and so on. Even Rothbard, in The Ethics of Liberty, makes this assumption in arguing for a type of contractual copyright: A common […]
And, in the words of Groundhog Day’s Ned Ryerson, “It’s a doosy”. As noted previously (see Stop the ACTA (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement)), this treaty was being negotiated in secret and is an attempt to extend the reach of the west’s horrible and draconian IP (patent and copyright) regimes to other countries. As I noted, the […]
The scholarly libertarian journal Reason Papers, founded by Tibor Machan and currently edited by Aeon Skoble, just put its most recent issue online. (It’s hosted on the Mises Institute’s servers and I help with the online aspect.) Contents listed below: Issue No. 31 – Fall 2009 (Full Issue) Editorial Articles: Business Ethics Symposium Rival Paradigms […]
I’ve posted recently about Net Neutrality–see Net Neutrality Developments and A Libertarian Take on Net Neutrality. There’s an interesting discussion about this and related issues on the EconTalk podcast, between host Russ Roberts and Yochai Benkler of Harvard. Benkler really knows his stuff and it comes thru in this fascinating and informative discussion. As he […]
There’s been a good deal of debate recently in libertarian circles about the word capitalism. Is it compatible with libertarianism? A synonym for it? Should we use it? For example: Voice of Radical Dissent podcast, Episode 109: “Capitalism; an interview with Walter Block and Brad Spangler” Walter Block: Say ‘Yes’ to Capitalism and ‘Capitalism’ Yesterday, […]
Jeff, re your post LvMI Kindle editions, as I noted there, the Kindle app does not, as far as I know, natively support ePub files. However, the new iBooks format on iPad does. All you do is click on the ePub link for a given book (several are listed here)–or download the ePub file and […]
Tibor Machan in Essay on “Government” v. “State” distinguishes between state and government, and says: Labeling an allegedly “near pure” libertarian opponent a “supporter of the state” or “a statist” does carry a painful sting. One would hope, however, that just this temptation is resisted by serious scholars. Now, sure, if you distinguish government from […]
From Stefan Molyneux’s post on the Mises forum: The Freedomain Radio Book Club had a great discussion with Stephan about intellectual property which I thought you might enjoy… FDR1616 Stephan Kinsella on Intellectual Property from Freedomain Radio Play Now We did this yesterday, Mar. 20, 2010. It was about an hour and was a nice, […]
When I lived as a student in London 1991-92, one day I decided to visit the Bank of England to see what they would do if I presented a 5-pound note for redemption of the promise to pay the bearer “five pounds” on demand. The tale was told in a guest reflection in Liberty in […]
So says Big Copyright, which adopted the term for copyright infringers because of “its suggestions of theft, destruction, and violence.” But now, the “pirates”have “co-opted the term, adopting it with gusto and hoisting the Jolly Roger across the Internet (The Pirate Bay being the most famous example).” I agree. Copyright infringers should not be called […]
