Read This!

Well, we have all been brought up on the rationale for patent rights and copy right:  It is to stimulate innovation, because if innovators and creators of original content can’t be guaranteed at least a period in which they can reap the commercial success for their inventions, they would not innovate or develop original content. It costed money to invent, who would go to the expense if you could not recoup and a competitor reap the benefits of your intellect and hard work?  Basically the case between Apple and Samsung now being deliberated by the Californian jury.

But there are counter examples. We – well I – have just not heard of them before. Until Feakonomic bloggers Kal Raustiala and Christopher Sprigman in “The knockoff economy, how imitation sparks innovation.”

Their examples are from the following five industries where there are no patent rights of copyright:

1. Fashion
2. Cuisine
3. Stand-up comedy
4. Football  (American gridiron)
5. Finance

Let’s just highlight for the moment #4 with a recent example from Rugby Union.  Sonny Bill Williams introduced the backhand offload. Imagine if there were laws which allowed him to patent it?!

I will return to the book in the following posts; but not for a long time have my presuppositions been so challenged and my world-view turned upside down!