Imitation Is the Sincerest Form of Flattery : A Critical Analysis of Against Intellectual Monopoly

Against Intellectual Monopoly by Boldrin and Levine (“B&L”) makes the case that intellectual property does not promote innovation or lead to greater economic growth, by highlighting numerous examples from industries in which innovation increased without patent or copyright protection. The authors also argue that companies only try to obtain an intellectual monopoly after the well runs dry as a way to sit on their laurels and profit from past inventions by prohibiting competition. Therefore, patents and copyrights do not stimulate new inventions but instead reward past inventions