Via his own blog, I am directed to Mr Coates' piece at the Adam Smith Institute blog. Here's the first paragraph:
Intellectual property rights – better thought of as intellectual monopoly rights – are an unnecessary evil. They are unnecessary because all their stated, utilitarian aims can be achieved by other means. They are an evil because granting artificial rights to non-property restricts everyone else’s property rights. They are more likely to be used to stifle the creativity, innovation, and emulation that underpins technological and cultural advance; and they concentrate wealth and power in the hands of privileged non-creators more interested in milking selected others’ efforts.Does he succeed in his case? Can he justify these opening assertions? Read on to discover...
Jock Coats is one of my proper libertarian mates, and altho' he hams it up a bit, he does have a point.
ReplyDeleteWell, having read all that, I'm still confused.
ReplyDeleteMark, 'proper' in what sense? I suspect you of Anabaptist tendencies.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a signpost, James, to other more detailed snalysis.