Copyright Quote by Eric von Hippel
““Copyright owners can prevent others from building new works on characters (e.g. Mickey Mouse) that are already familiar to customers. The result is that owners of large portfolios of copyrighted work can gain an advantage over those with no or small portfolios in the creation of derivative works. Indeed, Benkler (2002) argues that institutional changes strengthening intellectual property protection tend to foster concentration of information production in general. Lessig (2001) and Boldrin and Levine (2002) arrive at a similarly negative valuation of overly strong””
About This Quote
Source Article: The Economics of Open Source Software, 2002
Strong IP rights let large owners block others from creating new works, concentrating creative power and limiting innovation.
In simple terms: Big owners can block new works, hurting innovation.
Key Takeaway
Support open, collaborative creation.
Themes
intellectual property
competition
innovation
concentration
collaboration
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
policy
economic
When to use this quote
- software development
- media production
- startup ecosystems
- policy making
Key Concepts
property rights
market dynamics
creative commons
Questions to Reflect On
- How does IP balance creator rewards and public access?
- What alternatives foster innovation without concentration?
A Different Perspective
Strong IP can also protect creators' livelihoods and incentivize investment.
