Abstract
This essay reviews six different approaches to intellectual property. It and argues that none of these accounts provide an adequate justification of intellectual property laws and policies because (1) there are many different types of intellectual property, and (2) a variety of incommensurable values play a role in the justification of intellectual property. The best approach to intellectual property is to assess and balance competing moral values in light of the particular facts and circumstances.
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Resnik, D.B. A Pluralistic Account of Intellectual Property. Journal of Business Ethics 46, 319–335 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025631902384
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025631902384