Abstract

MIGUEZ, Pablo. Intellectual property and the forced commodification of knowledge. Universitas [online]. 2018, n.29, pp.43-65. ISSN 1390-8634.  https://doi.org/10.17163/uni.n29.2018.02.

This paper analyzes the growing commodification of knowledge through the reinforcement of intellectual property rights, on a global scale. This process is an expression of a change in the logic of capital’s production and valorisation, in the switch from industrial to cognitive capitalism. We recover the recent debates on commons and the theories of cognitive capitalism to show the need for stablishing a correspondence between international regulations and national legal systems, in order to valorize knowledge. We will study the origin and historical evolution of intellectual property rights and, based on empirical evidence obtained from specific studies and diverse sources, we will point out some concrete circumstances that favored changes in regulations and institutions.

Keywords : Intellectual porperty; knowledge; commons; cognitive capitalism.

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