Beyond Intellectual Property: Matching Information Protection to Innovation

Beyond Intellectual Property explores the many means by which information is protected. Based on thorough empirical research in the US and Europe as well as practical experience of economic innovation, it goes far beyond the traditional realm of intellectual property (IP). It also identifies the need for urgent reform of present arrangements and suggests practical ways of achieving this. New instruments for protecting investment in information have been historically important for initiating long-wave economic cycles. William Kingston argues that although IP has been one such method, it is increasingly proving ineffective because its laws have been progressively shaped by the interests that benefit from them, rather than by visions of the public good. He demonstrates that repair will require such visions, which would also underwrite radically new forms of information protection. This insightful book defines, describes and distinguishes between information, knowledge and meaning, and explains why information now needs changed forms of legal protection if it is to be of genuine economic value. As such, it will be of great interest to economic policy-makers, students of IP and innovation, patent agents and attorneys.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Preface 1. Information, Property Rights and Innovation 2. The Most-used Information Protection Means: Capability and Marketing 3. Protecting Disembodied Information: ‘Intellectual Property’ 4. International Information Protection 5. Information Protection and Visions of the Public Good 6. How Interests Came to Shape Information Protection 7. Rescuing a Dysfunctional System 8. Compulsory Arbitration for Dispute Resolution 9. Better Measurement for Information Protection 10. Protecting the Information of Smaller Firms 11. Direct Protection of Innovation 12. Epilogue: Must Interests Prevail? Index

About the Author :
William Kingston, School of Business, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

Review :
‘. . . this is an enjoyable and thought-provoking review of the challenges surrounding market intervention to provide monopolies for information. Because it draws on a lengthy period of study and thoughtful reflection acquired during Kingston’s lengthy career, it provides even a well-informed reader with new information and insights.’ ‘Bill Kingston. . . with decades of publishing one insightful analysis after another. He has done it again. The book is interesting because it traces the history of information protection, and the semantics of information, across the centuries, in what I characterize as a free-flowing approach, which makes reading this particular history much more enjoyable. He reviews the troubles all branches of IP have had dealing with information, and near the end reviews some of the solutions.’ ‘For all those who are interested in and concerned about the future of IP, this book is required reading.’