Vigorous public debate about intellectual property has a long history. In this assessment of the shifting relationships between the law and the economic, social and cultural sources of creativity and innovation during the long-nineteenth century, Megan Richardson and Julian Thomas examine the 'fashioning' of the law by focusing on emblematic cases, key legislative changes and broader debates. Along the way, the authors highlight how, in 'the age of journalism', the press shaped, and was shaped by, the idea of intellectual property as a protective crucible for improvements in knowledge and progress in the arts and sciences. The engagement in our own time between intellectual property and the creative industries remains volatile and unsettled. As the authors conclude, the fresh opportunities for artistic diversity, expression and communication offered by new media could see the place of intellectual property in the scheme of law being reinvented once again.

Examines the relationships between intellectual property law, international exhibitions, advertising practices and the press during the 'long nineteenth century'.

About the Author
Megan Richardson is a Director of the Centre for Media and Communications Law, an Associate Director of Law at the Intellectual Property Research Institute of Australia and a Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Melbourne. Julian Thomas is Director of the Swinburne Institute for Social Research and Professor of Media and Communications at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.

Reviews
'It is fascinating to learn how IP law came about, by demonstrating the socio-legal aspects of UK common law and emerging legislation, later adopted in the United States and other common law countries ... The book is packed with helpful and detailed footnotes, case citations and historical documents - demonstrating that Richardson and Thomas must have experienced great academic pleasure when trawling through archived material not necessarily available online. ... The book makes fascinating reading, useful for IP law lecturers and practitioners in this field in that one gains detailed knowledge about the background and ever evolving law of intellectual property set within a well-researched historical context of the eighteenth to early twentieth centuries.' Entertainment Law Review
'The in-depth and rigorous treatment of the legal aspects with emphasis on the soft and hard provisions in various international agreements along with the succinct examples makes the book a valuable read for researchers, practitioners and policy makers alike.' Vijayalakshmi Asthana, Journal of Intellectual Property Rights



Book Information
ISBN 9780521767569
Author Megan Richardson
Format Hardback
Page Count 204
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 460g
Dimensions(mm) 235mm * 155mm * 18mm