Locke for the Masses: Property Rights and the Products of Collective Creativity

13 Pages Posted: 8 Jan 2009

See all articles by Robert P. Merges

Robert P. Merges

University of California, Berkeley - School of Law

Date Written: January 5, 2009

Abstract

In this brief Idea piece, I describe how the labor theory of property rights associated with John Locke might apply to projects such as WikiPedia, which aggregate many small contributions by dispersed contributors. These works of "collaborative creativity" represent very significant investments of time and resources, yet do not fit comfortably within the individually-oriented framework of traditional Lockean analysis. Locke's central insight - that laboring on unowned resources ought (with exceptions and qualifications) to justify appropriation - suggests the desirability of granting some form of property interest over the products of collaborative creativity. I also explore a few practical issues that would have to be resolved to implement such a right.

Suggested Citation

Merges, Robert P., Locke for the Masses: Property Rights and the Products of Collective Creativity (January 5, 2009). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1323408 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1323408

Robert P. Merges (Contact Author)

University of California, Berkeley - School of Law ( email )

215 Boalt Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720-7200
United States
510-643-6199 (Phone)
510-643-6171 (Fax)

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