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Against Intellectual Monopoly Paperback – January 25, 2010

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Michele Boldrin (Author)
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Michele Boldrin (Author), David K. Levine (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars 30 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 306 pages
  • Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 1 edition (January 25, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1107012813
  • ISBN-13: 978-0521127264
  • ASIN: 0521127262
  • Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #758,964 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsIntriguing
By Skeptikos on September 24, 2008
Format: Hardcover
First, I have not read the book in this form. I read a free version online. There might be some differences; I don't know.

Anyway-
I was pointed to this book while arguing that intellectual property is needed to overcome a public goods problem. After reading it, I've moved from confidently supporting minimal IP rights to tentatively advocating their abolition.

The authors provide plenty of evidence and a few intriguing theoretical arguments to bolster their position.

It definitely won't be the last word on this subject, but it will widen the debate and point it in new directions. Very much worth reading, if you're interested in IP issues.
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5.0 out of 5 starsThe More You Know...
By Tim Miller on December 27, 2011
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Boldrin and Levine expose the lies of copyrights, patents, and other IP laws. Although not the most exciting read, it does do a wonderful job at presenting the case against IPLs and how society would be better off without them. In my opinion, their solutions don't go far enough, but are a step in the right direction. For any economist, politician, or socially concerned individual, this is a worthwhile read. A few highlights: The Wright Brothers were NOT first in flight. Patents actually DECREASE innovation. The medical industry does NOT need patents to make money. Many companies make a profit by not patenting and actually have "PatentLefts" which make it illegal to patent anything related to the product (see Red Hat and Linux).
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5.0 out of 5 starsA very clear set of arguments for the non-economist.
By Gabe on October 29, 2010
Format: Hardcover
Before continuing, you should know that I also read the free copy available online, not the print book.

The book is a simple and clear set of reasoned arguments against the existence of intellectual monopoly. Boldrin and Levine are careful to distinguish between intellectual property rights and intellectual monopoly: intellectual property is argued to be just as important as other property rights, while they eventually equate intellectual property to something close to public theft.

No difficult math or statistics are employed, so the average reader will be able to understand the arguments and agree or disagree. Each chapter also includes references to statistical and mathematical treatments of the subjects, although I wish they'd included brief outlines of these in an appendix.

The ideas themselves are impressively simple. Arguments in favor of intellectual monopoly can be made to seem very obvious. Arguments against intellectual monopoly can be a little complicated. It's easy to say that patents and copyrights are necessary to pay back authors and inventors for their risks and creativity. But how much should they be payed back? And does it occur without government intervention in the forms of patents and copyrights? Does piracy actually put the legitimate creators and inventors out of business?

One striking example from the book was the Linux company Red Hat, which distributes the open-source Linux platform and provides support. Its pirating competitors sell the same thing for cheaper (and indeed, the whole thing is available for free!) and yet Red Hat has grown and its competitors have shrunken or disappeared altogether. Boldrin and Levine point out that while something may be free, people are still willing to pay for other peoples' knowledge.Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsA very compelling argument against intellectual property as we know it
By Patrick Julius on June 22, 2015
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I found it a bit odd that this book opposed to all copyright and patent is in fact copyrighted, but I felt better once I learned that they've also released the full text online with a free license. Though economically sophisticated, the book is never dry or overly technical; it simply lays out the case against intellectual property (or as they insist it should be called, "intellectual monopoly") in vivid detail. By the end of the book I found myself completely convinced that patents must go, but still ambivalent about copyrights---which I guess seems appropriate, given that the book itself is copyrighted.
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5.0 out of 5 starsThis is a very interesting read. The points made ...
By john gjaltema on August 30, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
This is a very interesting read. The points made against intellectual property are very strong. The Author is very persuasive, and even after reading the book I agree one hundred percent with the author, but if I was to patent a lucrative project I believe I would want a monopoly. Only government can put an end to intellectual monopoly, and leave everyone with an open playing field. I certainly hope government stops monopoly because freedom of information, and human advancement will move at a very quick rate.
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4.0 out of 5 starsPersuasive Arguments Poorly Presented
By W. Ahern on October 17, 2011
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Against Intellectual Monopoly contains some absolute gems of insight and analysis, and altogether makes some very persuasive arguments against copyright and patent protections. The problem is that these gems are buried randomly among its 300-plus pages. The book reads more like the world's longest abstract. The table of contents may very well have been an afterthought. General impressions are haphazardly mixed with studied opinions and facts.

This lack of consistency and rigor--both literary and logical--detracts from the overall punch. I, for one, am thoroughly convinced. But I'm an easy sell. Unfortunately this book is unlikely to convert intellectual property proponents or fence sitters. It's something of a missed opportunity, though I certainly appreciate and commend the authors' efforts at writing for a lay audience.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsLots of useful info.

The time for tearing down the unneeded walls of IP is now. Lots of useful info.

Published 21 days ago by Jordan Inman
5.0 out of 5 starsIncredible, concise and rock solid book

Incredible book. I cant imagine how the authors managed to make a short interesting book whith such a well founded and rock solid argument against intellectual monopoly. Read more

Published 15 months ago by jose luis
5.0 out of 5 starsIntriguing and thought provoking.

Very intriguing. You might agree or disagree with their argument but it clearly is thought provoking. Read more

Published 20 months ago by S. M
4.0 out of 5 starsGreat explanation of Patent and Copyright law and it's effect on...

While an excellent book about the consequences of patent and copyright laws, I can't help but pause to notice the apparent hypocrisy in the distribution of this book. Read more

Published on June 21, 2013 by Zaliek
5.0 out of 5 starsStrange, powerful and complex arguments abotu/against intellectual...

Last October I published a post about the article The Case Against Patents by Michele Boldrin and David K. Levine. Read more

Published on May 7, 2013 by Herve Lebret
2.0 out of 5 starsCherry-picks best cases for IP-free world, dismisses industrial...

It's been ~ a year since I read this book, but I had to leave a review now since I am currently reading Rosen's The Most Powerful Idea in the World. Read more

Published on May 4, 2013 by David C.
2.0 out of 5 starsAn interesting, if overly-strident and flawed attack on IP

I wanted to really give this book a higher rating but I feel in all honesty that I cannot. The problem here is that the book reads too much like a prosecuting attorney's case,... Read more

Published on April 1, 2012 by Thomas H. Burroughes
4.0 out of 5 starsA fact-based argument against patents

This is book is not a phylosophical abstract dissertation about patent systems, nor its arguments are used against software patents only, they are used against all kind of... Read more

Published on March 9, 2012 by Umberto Nicoletti
4.0 out of 5 starsStrong contemoprary analysis & critique against IPRs

It is a book written in a form which mocks its initial bias against intellectual monopoly. This recognition, gives the authors an incentive to write in a form that is both witty... Read more

Published on November 16, 2011 by Ushiaon

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