A History of Intellectual Property in 50 Objects

This volume brings together a group of contributors from varied backgrounds to tell a history of intellectual property in 50 objects.

Claudy Op den Kamp (Edited by), Dan Hunter (Edited by)

9781108420013, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 20 June 2019

440 pages, 353 colour illus.
26.1 x 18.4 x 3.8 cm, 1.93 kg

'There are numerous 'History in 50/100 Objects' books out there, but this is the most engaging, intriguing, and expansive I've seen yet.' Glenn Dallas, Tulsa Book Review

What do the Mona Lisa, the light bulb, and a Lego brick have in common? The answer - intellectual property (IP) - may be surprising, because IP laws are all about us, but go mostly unrecognized. They are complicated and arcane, and few people understand why they should care about copyright, patents, and trademarks. In this lustrous collection, Claudy Op den Kamp and Dan Hunter have brought together a group of contributors - drawn from around the globe in fields including law, history, sociology, science and technology, media, and even horticulture - to tell a history of IP in 50 objects. These objects not only demonstrate the significance of the IP system, but also show how IP has developed and how it has influenced history. Each object is at the core of a story that will be appreciated by anyone interested in how great innovations offer a unique window into our past, present, and future.

Part I. Introduction: Of People, Places, and Parlance Claudy Op den Kamp and Dan Hunter
Objects: Part II. The Pre-Modern Period: 1. Goryeo celadon Hee-Kyoung Spiritas Cho
2. Murano glass vase Stefania Fusco
3. Mona Lisa Andrea Wallace
4. Tempesta map of Rome Jane C. Ginsburg
Part III. The Age of Invention: 5. Hogarth engraving Michael Punt
6. Lithograph Amanda Scardamaglia
7. Morse telegraph Adam Mossoff
8. Singer sewing machine Lionel Bently
9. Uncle Tom's Cabin Peter Jaszi
10. Corset Kara W. Swanson
11. A. G. Bell telephone Christopher Beauchamp
12. Light bulb Stef van Gompel
13. Oscar Wilde portrait Megan Richardson
14. Kodak camera Jessica Lake
15. Kinetoscope Peter Decherney
16. Deerstalker hat Ronan Deazley
17. Paper print Claudy Op den Kamp
Part IV. Modern Times: 18. Player piano roll Maurizio Borghi
19. Champagne Dev S. Gangjee
20. Steamboat Willie Peter Decherney
21. PH-lamp Stina Teilmann-Lock
22. Climbing rose Brad Sherman
23. Penguin paperback Stuart Kells
24. Ferragamo Wedge Marianne Dahlén
25. Aspirin pill Catherine Bond
Part V. The Consumption Age: 26. Bell transistor Beth Webster
27. Oral contraceptive pill Melanie Brown
28. Photocopier Jessica Silbey
29. Elstar Apple Jeroen Scharroo
30. Chanel 2.55 Jeannie Suk Gersen
31. Lego brick Dan Hunter and Julian Thomas
32. Barbie doll Dan Hunter and Greg Lastowka
33. Coca-Cola bottle Jacob Gersen and C. Scott Hemphill
34. Zapruder film Brian L. Frye
35. Audiotape cassette Robin Wright
36. Action figure Jason Bainbridge
37. RAM-chip Jake Goldenfein
38. Football Michael J. Madison
Part VI. The Digital Now: 39. Polymer banknote Tom Spurling
40. Post-it note Stavroula Karapapa
41. Betamax Julian Thomas
42. Escalator Megan M. Carpenter
43. 3D printer Dinusha Mendis
44. CD Matthew David
45. Internet Jonathan Zittrain
46. Wi-fi router Terry Healy
47. Viagra pill Graham Dutfield
48. Qantas skybed Mitchell Adams
49. Mike Tyson tattoo Marie Hadley
50. Bitcoin Primavera De Filippi.

Subject Areas: Intellectual property law [LNR], Legal history [LAZ], History of ideas [JFCX]