Review of “Against Intellectual Monopoly”

Reviewed by: Susan C. Azzarelli
Book by: Michele Boldrin & David K. Levine

Summary

This book asks whether patents and copyrights are essential to creation and innovation based on recent controversies in intellectual property. The authors found that a teenager being sued for “pirated” music and the inability of patients in Africa to pay for AIDS medication show that patents and copyrights are not needed. They illustrate that “intellectual monopoly” hinders the competitive free market and the authors agree that patents and copyrights as they exist today should be eliminated.

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