Episode 33 - "All Rights Reserved"

Ideas have become property. This is the magic spell that intellectual property has cast across our society. Innovation, art, new ideas, and even our culture can be locked behind the restrictions of the law, protected by armies of lawyers, devastating fines, and the full power of the justice system. This system is built for and run predominantly by publishers, not the creators it purports to support - and we all suffer from it.

How did we get here? Where did we go astray and lose control of the very act of creation that defines what it is to be human? This week we explore the foundations of intellectual property, the effects it has had on our history and our current day, times and places where IP is lacking and creativity flourishes, and finally we share our hope for a better future.

This is the most expensive Ashes Ashes show ever and we hope you enjoy and share freely.

Chapters

• 01:43 $1 Billion
• 04:05 A Brief History
• 07:17 Printing Press
• 13:30 Statute of Anne
• 20:31 France
• 23:05 Switzerland
• 24:18 The Wild West of IP
• 27:05 Germany
• 30:23 James Watt's Steam Engine
• 33:27 Copyright in the US
• 39:21 Modern Absurdity
• 44:41 Science and Research
• 46:15 The Contributions of Who?
• 51:14 IP Costs Lives
• 59:38 Medicines and Pharma
• 1:05:20 Fashion and Designs
• 1:09:46 Technology and Software
• 1:13:49 Culture and History
• 1:25:21 Whatt Can We Do?

A full transcript is available as well as detailed links and sources (plus credits and more) on our website ashesashes.org.

Find more information along with relevant news and links on your favorite social network @ashesashescast.

CC BY-SA 4.0