Why is the title to real property permanent whereas some intellectual property is limited in the time that it?

Question

why is intellectual property limited to the time that it is protected?

Answer 1

Real property endures. Real property is also physically limited in location and size. You can' t have an unlimited number of copies the way you can with intellectual property. Title to real property is ownership and generally right of exclusive control. Because real property is limited, and can't be copied, there needs to be some way to regulate how the property is used.

Title to intellectual property is merely protection against competition. The original author doesn't change, so 'ownership' doesn't generally change, though it can be conveyed like real property. The difference is that intellectual property can be copied over and over again with no loss. Also, unlike real property, it's easy for anyone else to create new intellectual property.

So, the only need for ownership of intellectual property is to prevent unauthorized copying, since the property itself is not harmed or lost. As opposed to the need for ownership of real property which is to preserve the integrity and use of the property itself.

Answer 2

Even with real property, the government can come in and take it.

I believe all IP is limited--Patents (20 or 14 depending on the type), trademarks (10 years unless you continue to renew), and Copyrights (life of author plus 70 years). Patents end so that monopolies cannot exist (think how much more expensive your medicine would be)--supply and demand curve explain this. Trademarks only end if you allow them to or if you become a generic (Asprin is a good example of this) and no one looks for your trademark. Copyrights--that is something the Supreme Court has messed with and they have no real explanation. I think originally it was less than a hundred years and then 125 and now this.

Real answer is probably $$$$$$$$$$.

Answer 3

Intellectual property is an invention of government. Public domain is where all of the songs, writings etc. existed prior to this invention. Government started out giving limited time for authors, song writers etc to make a profit. Then their lobby extended and extended this time, taking the property from Public Domain for longer and longer time periods. Public Domain is no longer a useful concept. Government has taken it from everyone else and given it to a handful of investors in Hollywood and New York,, Anyone want to sing a song about that?