I thought it might be interesting to demonstrate
at least part of why I (and IPI) care about IP.
There has been at least an implicit and perhaps explicit accusation that the only reason I or anyone would be interested in aggressively defending the current property-rights model of innovation is that they're being bought and paid for by some greedy corporate interests.
I care about IP mostly because I recognize that property protection is the foundation of a growing economy, and I recognize that intellectual property is often a MORE POWERFUL driver of economic growth than physical property.
But at least part of why I care about IP is that I've been a creator myself.
In previous careers, I've been a published author and a designer of successful commercial products.
Here's a link to U.S. patent 5,108,594, for a product which I designed and patented in 1992.
Here's a link to U.S. patent 5,122,267, another product I designed and patented, also in 1992.
There are others.
Also, here's a link to a book I wrote in 1991, which is still selling well 14 years later.
Obviously, I also write op/eds and longer papers, for which I am paid.
So I have firsthand experience with the incentives in the existing system that encourage creation and dissemination.
There has been at least an implicit and perhaps explicit accusation that the only reason I or anyone would be interested in aggressively defending the current property-rights model of innovation is that they're being bought and paid for by some greedy corporate interests.
I care about IP mostly because I recognize that property protection is the foundation of a growing economy, and I recognize that intellectual property is often a MORE POWERFUL driver of economic growth than physical property.
But at least part of why I care about IP is that I've been a creator myself.
In previous careers, I've been a published author and a designer of successful commercial products.
Here's a link to U.S. patent 5,108,594, for a product which I designed and patented in 1992.
Here's a link to U.S. patent 5,122,267, another product I designed and patented, also in 1992.
There are others.
Also, here's a link to a book I wrote in 1991, which is still selling well 14 years later.
Obviously, I also write op/eds and longer papers, for which I am paid.
So I have firsthand experience with the incentives in the existing system that encourage creation and dissemination.