WUSTL economics professor David Levine says abolishing 'intellectual property' won't solve all social ills, but it would be a big step in the right direction for solving a range of problems from the high cost of health care, to innovating our way out of the current recession. In a series of posts with his co-author, WUSTL economics professor Michele Boldrin, they will be posting here about green technology, entertainment, free speech, multinationals, and innovation over the next weeks.

References:

1. Sept. 15, 2009 — Save the Whales! Abolish Patents! in the Huffingtonpost.com

While some stores like Sharper Image have disappeared, their brand names live on. Consumers might be confused by the new products or even feel deceived by the practice. Includes comments from WUSTL economics professor David Levine and WUSTL intellectual property law professor Charles McManis.

References:

1. April 14, 2009 — Brand Names Live After Stores Close in the The New York Times

and 4 others.

A long-negotiated patent overhaul bill sought by technology companies and opposed by big pharmaceutical makers ran into trouble in the U.S. Senate. Scott Kieff, WUSTL law professor and patent law expert, comments.

References:

1. April 14, 2008 — Backed patent bill in trouble in U.S. Senate in the The Guardian (UK)

and 10 others.

WUSTL law professor Scott Kieff writes a commentary about regulating Microsoft.
He is also a research fellow at Stanford University' s Hoover Institution, where he runs the Hoover Project on Commercializing Innovation, which studies the law, economics and politics of innovation.

References:

1. March 11, 2008 — Commentary: Let The Markets Regulate Microsoft in the Forbes.com

Three months after the Supreme Court handed down what many called a landmark patent decision, judges have begun to rule in favor of companies defending themselves against infringement lawsuits.
Some experts in law and economics think affording judges discretion in analyzing an obviousness defense is not a good thing. "Flexibility has an Achilles' heel, which is that people with the biggest lobbying and litigation budgets, and the best public relations, win," said Scott Kieff, a WUSTL law professor, who has argued for predictable rules in the patent system.

References:

1. July 31, 2007 — How a patent ruling Is changing court cases in the The Wall Street Journal

In a June 19 article on the legal battle over intellectual property rights between James Joyce's grandson and various scholars, WUSTL law professor and intellectual property specialist F. Scott Kieff comments.

References:

1. June 19, 2006 — The Injustice Collector in the The New Yorker