Skip to main content

Problem Limiting the Public Domain -Rawls’s Veil of Ignorance and Time

  • Conference paper
Safe and Secure Cities (WIS 2014)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 450))

Included in the following conference series:

  • 873 Accesses

Abstract

Information, ideas and new inventions are crucial parts of modern society. Accumulated knowledge is a huge possibility for mankind and information technology has especially made it possible to share resources with all mankind. Nevertheless, the current situation where strong intellectual property rights exists the public domain has been limited and thus the possibilities to use that knowledge is limited especially for people lacking adequate income or property. It seems that the current situation is not well justified because current intellectual property rights are against the two Principles of Justice presented by Rawls. In addition intellectual property rights are a source of inequity towards the people of the future and would not be implemented behind Veil of Ignorance which is the core way to define whether a society is just according to Rawls. This paper shows examples which emphasize the view that new legislation for intellectual property is needed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Hettinger, E.C.: Justifying Intellectual Property. Philosophy & Public Affairs 18(1), 31–52 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Boyle, J.: Public Domain: Enclosing the Commons of the Mind. Yale University Press (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Rawls, J.A.: Theory of Justice, Revised edition, Cambridge. Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Massachusetts (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Murphy, D.: Are intellectual property rights compatible with Rawlsian principles of Justice? Ethics and Information Technology 14(2), 109–121 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Cohen, J.: Copyright, Commodification, and Culture: Locating the Public Domain. In: Guibault, L., Hugenholtz, P.B. (eds.) The Future of the Public Domain, pp. 121–166. Kluwer Law International (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Lessig, L.: Re-crafting a Public Domain. Yale Journal of Law & the Humanities 18(3), 56–83 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Litman, J.: The public domain. Emory Law Journal 39(4), 964–1023 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Norton, B.: Intergenerational equity and environmental decisions: A model using Rawls’ veil of ignorance. Ecological Economics 1(2), 137–159 (1989)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Lessig, L.: The Future of Ideas: The Fate of the Commons in a Connected World. Vintage Books, New York (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Spinello, R.A.: Ethical Aspects of Information Technology. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Upper Saddle River (1995)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this paper

Cite this paper

Koskinen, J.S.S., Kimppa, K.K., Kainu, V.M.A. (2014). Problem Limiting the Public Domain -Rawls’s Veil of Ignorance and Time. In: Saranto, K., Castrén, M., Kuusela, T., Hyrynsalmi, S., Ojala, S. (eds) Safe and Secure Cities. WIS 2014. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 450. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10211-5_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10211-5_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-10210-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-10211-5

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics