Copyrights and Copywrongs: The Rise of Intellectual Property and How it Threatens Creativity

An in-depth look at American copyright law and the flaws of its current legal framework

Copyright reflects far more than economic interests. Embedded within conflicts over royalties and infringement are cultural values—about race, class, access, ownership, free speech, and democracy—which influence how rights are determined and enforced. Questions of legitimacy—of what constitutes “intellectual property” or “fair use,” and of how to locate a precise moment of cultural creation—have become en...