INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property

Introduction

In the transition to a new stage of social development, the formation of the information society is inconceivable without the respect and promotion of creative activity. The need for access to information and knowledge should not lead to the denial of legal protection of intellectual property, but should promote initiatives to resolve existing conflicts and improve the rule of law. Intellectual property refers to the types of property to which the tangible assets are allocated directly. Legislation that defines the rights of intellectual property establishes a monopoly on certain forms of authors to use the results of their intellectual and creative activity, which thus can be used by others without authorization. Overall the system is articulated through patents and copyrights by country or copyrights. It protects the original work of authors to be used or cited by someone else's without prior authorization. Historically, these rights belong to the national privileges.

Scope of the Paper

The paper will critically analyze the statement by Brian Martin with respect to intellectual property rights. The statement is outlined as;

“There is a strong case for opposing intellectual property. Among other things, it often retards innovation and exploits Third World peoples. Most of the usual arguments for intellectual property do not hold up under scrutiny”.

Discussion

Intellectual property includes ideas, discoveries, writings, artwork, software, data collection and presentation. Intellectual property is legally protected by copyrights, trademarks and patents. However, the methods offered by IT for easy and accurate copies can undermine these protections.

Brain Martin has debated on this topic and brought about different dimensions. Dr Martin is an associate professor at the University Of Wollongong in the areas of in Science, Technology and Society, Australia. He is a formally trained physicist and his current research interests include Martin nonviolence, whistle blowing and intellectual property. Martin is the author of a number of books on nonviolence, dissent and democracy such as Nonviolence Speaks: Communicating against repression (with Wendy Varney), Nonviolence against capitalism and Technology for Non-violent struggle.

Martin in his statement has highlighted different aspects with respect to the intellectual property. Intellectual property is broken down generally into three different regulations: copyright (or copyright), patents and trademarks. Some include also trade secrets. The author points that there are innumerous negative consequences with respect to the ownership of information, his statement is mentioned above. Although, Martin has emphasized that ownership of information and copyrights leads to negative consequences yet, there are also another way to view the same. An example would be best to explain the notion.

A book titled Documents on Australian Defense and Foreign Policy 1968-1975 was published in 1980 by authors Richard Walsh and George Munster that presented many recrets with respect to government memos, reports, briefings, and other documents relating to the involvement of Australia in the Vietnam War. The documents were also related to the Indonesian invasion of East Timor as well as other issues. Such information deeply led the Australian government into deep embarrassment. In an unparalleled move, the government issued an interim injunction, citing both the Crimes Act and the Copyright ...