Intellectual Property: Can You Own an Idea?

The U.S. Constitution authorizes Congress to enact copyright laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” – so what does that mean? Is it fair for a company to keep their life-saving treatment a secret to make back their development costs? Even if that means millions of preventable deaths?

Do you have the right to determine how you or your family are shown in the world? Is it okay for someone to make money off t-shirts with the picture of your murdered child?

How should intellectual property (IP) protections apply to culture and entertainment? We all know about copyrighting songs, books, and movies. Are song remixes infringing on the copyright of the original performance? Are rhythms and “beats” copyrightable?

Whether it’s patents, copyrights, or trademarks, how do we balance the rights of the creator with those of the general public?

By looking at some real-world IP examples, we’ll explore where the balance lies between innovation and fair use.

Psst – we’d love to hear what IP examples stand out to you!
Post your links ahead of time in the Intellectual Property Discussion Group on the CPL Community Site at https://crossingpartylines.net/groups/intellectual-property/forum
Don’t have an account? You can create one at https://crossingpartylines.net/membership-account/membership-levels/

Join the Crossing Party Lines discussion and have a voice in our Nation’s Conversation! People of all views are welcomed, appreciated, and heard.

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