Rethinking Intellectual Property : A Radical Guide to the Past, Present, and Future of the Ownership of Ideas

This is the updated and expanded edition of the only radical, multidisciplinary, international introduction to intellectual property in its socio-economic contexts.

Bringing together voices from law, sociology, economics, political science, and cultural studies from across the Global North and Global South, experts and activists Mat Callahan and Jim Rogers offer a detailed history and analysis of IP before asking critical questions designed to underscore its importance in the broader struggle between capital and the commons. What are the broader implications of IP, whether for agribusiness, pharmaceuticals, education, or entertainment? Is IP law a fundamental pillar of our culture, or has it been used to protect and assert the ownership of, and thus limit, the spread of ideas and creativity?

With a chapter structure moving from historical and theoretical foundations to industry-specific conflicts and policy analysis, this book covers the breadth and depth of IP areas, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets, as well as emerging issues such as digital rights and biotechnology.

Key features include:

- voluminous, up-to-date case studies, both Western and non-Western;

- an extensive, jargon-busting list of abbreviations of specialized or technical terms;

- a new chapter on copyright and socialism;

- revisions and updates accounting for the seismic impacts of artificial intelligence.

This is a foundational must-read for all researchers, students, and activists interested in critical analyses of IP laws and policies--not just their legal frameworks, but also their broader social, economic, and political implications.