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Intellectual Property: General Theories, Peter Menell

Peter Menell

This chapter surveys and synthesizes the deepening and widening theoretical landscape of intellectual property. Not surprisingly, the principal philosophical theory applied to the protection of utilitarian works - that is, technological inventions - has been utilitarianism. Utilitarian theorists generally endorse the creation of intellectual property rights as an appropriate means to foster innovation. Non-utilitarian theorists emphasize creators’ moral rights to control their work. Many of these scholars draw upon multiple philosophical strands in constructing their analyses.