Patent monopolies were an instrument during the guild era that regulated how knowledge could pass from master artisans to their apprentices. For some reason,…
Read MoreReference
An Alternative to Pharmaceutical Patents
It has been previously established that the pharmaceutical industry is the only industry gaining from the patent system at all. For all other industries,…
Read More
An Internet Levy is a Terrible Idea
The notion that all Internet users should somehow pay the old copyright monopoly structures a monthly fee, to compensate them for file sharing, has…
Read More
Why The Name "Pirate Party"?
I’m frequently asked about the name of the Pirate Party, particularly in international contexts. Is it serious? Isn’t it an obstacle? Does it work?…
Read More
History of Copyright, part 7: Hijacked by Pfizer
Toyota struck at the heart of the American soul in the 1970s, and all her politicians started carrying mental “The End Is Nigh” signs….
Read More
History of Copyright, part 6: Hijacked By Record Industry
During most of the 20th century, a battle of prominence raged between performing musicians and the record industry. For most of the century, musicians…
Read More
History of Copyright, part 5: Moral Rights
In the late 1800s, the publishers’ ever-strengthening copyright monopoly had lopsided the creators’ chances of making any revenue off of their works. Basically, all…
Read More
History of Copyright, part 4: The US and Libraries
When the United States was founded, the concept of monopolies on ideas was carried to the New World and debated intensely. Thomas Jefferson was…
Read More
History of Copyright, part 3: The Monopoly Dies – And Rises
After Bloody Mary had enacted the copyright censorship monopoly in 1557, neither the profitable industry guild nor the censoring Crown had any desire to…
Read More
History of Copyright, part 2: Bloody Mary
On May 23, Mary was formally declared a bastard by the archbishop. Her mother, Catherine, who was a catholic and the Pope’s protegé, had…
Read More
