Drawing on macro-historical sociological theories, this book traces the development of intellectual property as a new type of legal property in the modern nation-state system. In its current form, intellectual property is considered part of an infrastructure of state power that incentivizes innovation, creativity, and scientific development, all engines of economic growth. To show how this infrastructure of power emerged, Laura Ford follows macro-historical social theorists, including Michael Mann and Max Weber, back to antiquity, revealing that legal instruments very similar to modern intellectual property have existed for a long time and have also been deployed for similar purposes. Using comparative and historical evidence, this groundbreaking work reflects on the role of intellectual property in our contemporary political communities and societies; on the close relationship between law and religion; and on the extent to which law's obliging force depends on ancient, written traditions.
Author(s): Laura R. Ford
Edition: 1
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Year: 2021
Language: English
Commentary: TruePDF
Pages: 443
Tags: Economics; Intellectual Property; Economic Thought; Philosophy And Methodology; Law; Intellectual Property: History; Intellectual Property: Social Aspects
Cover
Half Title
Title
Copyright
Contents
Preface and Acknowledgments
Introduction
1 | Legal Institutions and Social Power
2 | Legal Orders and Social Performance
3 | Instruments of Legal Power in the Roman Republic
4 | Semantic Legal Ordering
5 | Cultural Transformations
6 | Privileges and Immunities in a Sacramentalizing Order
7 | Administrative Kingship and Covenantal Bonds
8 | Intellectual Property in a Nationalizing Order
9 | Cultural Transformations
10 | Semantic Legal Ordering
11 | Instruments of Legal Power in the American Republic
12 | Legal Orders and Social Performance
Conclusion | The Intellectual Property of Nations
Index
