Intellectual Property Rights - or Rights to the Immaterial - in Digitally Distributable Media Gone All Wrong

Abstract

In the light of three major ethical theories, Lockean liberalism, consequentialism, and Kantian deontology, it seems that the intellectual property rights in digitally distributable media — be it software or other — have not been derived correctly. The three theories and their implications are reviewed and handled individually and conclusions based on each will be presented. Many aspects of these theories do not match with the current copyright and patent laws affecting digitally distributable media in western societies. A different, less restricting approach is offered.