Appeals Quote by Alex Kozinski
“For better or worse, we are the Court of Appeals for the Hollywood Circuit. Millions of people toil in the shadow of the law we make, and much of their livelihood is made possible by the existence of intellectual property rights. But much of their livelihood - and much of the vibrancy of our culture - also depends on the existence of other intangible rights: The right to draw ideas from a rich and varied public domain, and the right to mock, for profit as well as fun, the cultural icons of our time.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Intellectual Property Forum, 2019
The speaker argues that both IP and public domain rights are essential for cultural vitality and economic livelihood.
In simple terms: Both protected and shared ideas fuel culture and jobs.
Support balanced rights that protect creators and allow public use.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- publishing
- film production
- software development
- educational content creation
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can law encourage both protection and openness?
- What policies best preserve cultural vibrancy?
Over‑protective IP can stifle creativity and limit access to knowledge.