The traditional theory of property has a material or visible object, while intellectual property a metaphysical or abstract object. The abstract object is endowed with exclusive rights for certain period, and afterwards it would return to the common...
The traditional theory of property has a material or visible object, while intellectual property a metaphysical or abstract object. The abstract object is endowed with exclusive rights for certain period, and afterwards it would return to the commons in held to which everybody is accessible. In this regard it shall be a problem what on earth the philosophical justifications for property rights to ideas are. This article is focusing on the philosophical justifications based on Locke's labor theory. Locke begins with the discussion by describing a state of nature in which goods are held in common through a grant from God. The labor adds value to the goods in the state of nature, in which the labor shall be unquestionable property of the laborer, no man except him can have a right to what it is once joined to, at least where there is enough and as good left in common for others. The condition 'enough and as good' seems to correspond with the intellectual property, however, some problems are still left therein. The article deals with the philosophical justifications for intellectual property based on John Locke's labor theory as well as with some problems concerned.