Kinsella On Liberty

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 249. My appearance on Max Hillebrand's World Crypto Network show yesterday. Other notes: See other links at KOL191 | The Economy with Albert Lu: Can You Own Bitcoin? (1/3) My facebook post discussing ownership of Bitcoin Tom Bell: Copyright Erodes Property? Bitcoin Is Officially a Commodity, According to U.S. Regulator sd

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 248. TEMP: http://traffic.libsyn.com/livera/SLP15_-_Stephan_Kinsella.mp3 From my recent appearance on Stephan Livera's bitcoin-focused podcast. SLP15 – Intellectual Property, Bitcoin, and Internet Censorship, with Stephan Kinsella Stephan Kinsella, Intellectual Property lawyer, and libertarian advocate joins me in this episode to discuss: His story with bitcoin Money as Sui Generis Good The imprecise application of Lockean property theory Why you can’t own bitcoin, but it probably doesn’t make a big difference anyway The harmful effects of patents and copyright ‘Internet Censorship’ as it relates to property rights and ownership of private social media platforms Stephan Kinsella links: Twitter: @nskinsella Stephan’s website: StephanKinsella.com Center for the Study of Innovative Freedom Stephan Kinsella’s podcast, Kinsella on Liberty Podcast links: Libsyn SLP15 Apple Stitcher Spotify I really enjoyed this conversation with Stephan Kinsella, and I hope you enjoy listening to it. If you get value out of this episode, please remember to share it on your social media as that really helps expand my reach. Thanks guys.

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 247. On a recent episode [July 29, 2018] of Free Talk Live, Ian and Mark discuss their disagreement over Mark's filing a DMCA (copyright) takedown of a critical YouTube video. I called in to discuss this issue and intellectual property with Mark for the July 31 episode. For the full episode, go here. The excerpt with my portion is included here. I've discussed IP and other libertarian issues on FTL before: KOL141 | FreeTalkLive: IP and SOPA (2012) KOL082 | FreeTalkLive Guest Appearance: IP (2011) FreeTalkLive/XM Extreme Talk Appearance re Intellectual Property KOL 033 | Free Talk Live Interview on Reducing IP Costs (2010)

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 246. This is my appearance on the CryptoVoices podcast, Episode 43, interviewed by host Matthew Mežinskis. As indicated in the show notes (below), we discussed a variety of issues related to bitcoin, property rights, and related matters. The hosts also informed me of a recent article they had written regarding the economic classification of crypto tokens: An Economic Definition of Cryptotokens. Shownotes: Show support appreciated: 35iDYDYqRdN2x6KGcpdV2W1Hy3AjGje9oL Matthew interviews Stephan Kinsella, longtime advocate of private property and personal liberty, and expert on intellectual property law. We discuss broad-ranging issues on Bitcoin and private property. Is Bitcoin really property per se, and does anyone truly own bitcoin(s)? Also, how does the nature of intellectual property (or lack thereof) play into the open-source aspects of Bitcoin? What is Bitcoin? Is Bitcoin a digital good? Stephan shares his knowledge on the history of intellectual thought, personal liberty, and intellectual property to answer some of these questions. We discuss some current topics about the brand of Bitcoin (versus Bitcoin Cash), and if blockchain could(?) ever resolve some of the faults and friction in IP that Stephan has studied for years. Stephan is a well-read intellectual and Bitcoiners would do well to read more of his writings. Links for more info: twitter.com/NSKinsella www.stephankinsella.com/ mises.org/profile/stephan-kinsella mises.org/library/against-intellectual-property-0 mises.org/library/goods-scarce-and-nonscarce cointelegraph.com/news/pro-btc-mov…ng-lack-of-funds Further references: KOL191 | The Economy with Albert Lu: Can You Own Bitcoin? (1/3) KOL233 | Mises UK Podcast: Bitcoin Ownership and the Global Withering of the State for more on whether bitcoin is ownable property, see this Facebook thread KOL085 | The History, Meaning, and Future of Legal Tender KOL086 | RARE Radio interview with Kurt Wallace: The War on Bitcoin KOL 043 | Triple-V: Voluntary Virtues Vodcast, with Michael Shanklin: Bitcoin, Legal Reform, Morality of Voting, Rothbard on Copyright Tax Plan May Hurt Bitcoin, WSJ Swiss Tax Authorities Confirm that Bitcoin is VAT-free in Switzerland Tokyo court says bitcoins are not ownable FinCEN Rules Commodity-Backed Token Services are Money Transmitters Bitcoin Is Officially a Commodity, According to U.S. Regulator; Miami Judge Rules Bitcoin Is Not Money; Dismisses Money Laundering, Transmitting Charges How to handle bitcoin gains on your taxes SEC: US Securities Laws ‘May Apply’ to Token Sales Federal Judge Rules Bitcoin Is Real Money

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 245 From my appearance on the Nothing Exempt podcast, Ep. 53, discussing IP with a couple of libertarian hosts. Well, co-host Nick said he was 80% libertarian and disagreed with me on IP ... but for somewhat inscrutable reasons, as I started asking him about, about 4 minutes in. Recorded June 6, 2018. Youtube: https://youtu.be/7FBu0EXyukU

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 244. From my recent appearance on the first episode of rising libertarian and media star Michael Malice's "Your Welcome" show on his new network, GaS Digital (consider subscribing--libertarian Dave Smith also has a great show on the network--I just did). I was in New York for the weekend, he was rebooting his show on a new network, so it was kismet. We discussed the basic case against intellectual property (I had to persuade Malice, an anarcho-capitalist who came into this without a lot of settled views on it), the Hoppe "toy helicopter" incident [e.g., 1, 2, 3], the infamous Robert Wenzel "debate," and a few other issues, like my recent bout with prostate cancer (yeah, he got me to go there). (Recorded May 26, 2018) Grok's shownotes: Two-Paragraph Summary for Show Notes with Time Markers 0:02 - 35:16: In this engaging episode of "Your Welcome" with Michael Malice, guest Stephan Kinsella, a prominent libertarian and patent attorney, dives into the contentious topic of intellectual property (IP) abolition. Kinsella argues that IP laws, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets, create artificial scarcity and hinder innovation by restricting the free use of ideas, which are non-scarce resources (2:01 - 3:25). Using examples like Malice’s own book-writing experience, Kinsella challenges the notion that IP incentivizes creativity, suggesting that market competition and alternative models like crowdfunding could sustain creators without legal monopolies (3:32 - 8:46). He critiques the historical roots of IP, such as the Statute of Monopolies (9:40), and highlights empirical studies showing IP’s negligible or negative impact on innovation, particularly in pharmaceuticals (15:19 - 20:23). The discussion also touches on cultural distortions caused by IP, exemplified by convoluted comic book copyright battles like Captain Marvel’s (29:10 - 31:45). 35:16 - 1:05:20: The conversation shifts to practical implications and personal anecdotes. Kinsella envisions a publishing model driven by platforms like Kickstarter, reducing reliance on traditional publishing houses (37:25 - 39:19). He addresses real-world cases, such as Martin Shkreli’s drug price hike, to illustrate how government interventions, not market failures, exacerbate IP-related issues (42:12 - 44:53). The episode takes a humorous turn with a discussion of libertarian memes, particularly the “helicopter ride” meme tied to Hans-Hermann Hoppe, sparking online controversy (45:09 - 49:07). Finally, Kinsella shares a deeply personal story about his prostate cancer diagnosis and innovative laser treatment, offering insights into navigating health challenges and the role of patents in medical technology (50:00 - 1:04:07). The episode concludes with a reflection on the intersection of IP and medical innovation, underscoring Kinsella’s broader critique of government-granted monopolies (1:04:13 - 1:05:06). Grok summary and Youtube transcript below Update: for more on the Helicopter incident, see KOL462 | CouchStreams After Hours on Break the Cycle with Joshua Smith (2021): Hoppe's Michael Malice Helicopter Photo, Scooter Rides with Sammeroff, Mises Caucus Hopes, the Loser Brigade https://youtu.be/i0rvfJpPJ-4?si=UIrr3Yr_9MSy7cBL From the YouTube episode description: It's the first episode of "YOUR WELCOME"! Join Michael Malice as he speaks with American Intellectual Property Lawyer Stephan Kinsella on the current system of IP and how the implementation of its laws effect commerce, culture and society. From the drug industry to entertainment, the precedents set by those who govern over the laws of Intellectual Property help shape the foundation of culture as well as the economy. Listen as Michael Malice delves deep into the core of the issues and stories that effect our world today. "YOUR WELCOME". Follow the show @michaelmalice, @NSKinsella Original video available by subscription at GasDigital Excerpt: https://youtu.be/QV-LVhEhJCI More on the helicopter stuff:   Facebook post about the helicoptor. Even my buddy Tucker didn't like it! (we've made up, no worries)   If you think political violence is hilarious, and post pics with plastic helicopters to show it, you might examine your conscience. — Jeffrey A Tucker (@jeffreyatucker) October 8, 2017 Hoppe Helicopter Controversy of 2017 - Stephan Kinsella responds: https://youtu.be/rqipQNFSOEQ?si=skq0FFFwt5xSwhry&t=1 Grok Summary Bullet-Point Summary for Show Notes with Time Markers and Block Descriptions 0:00 - 15:00: Introduction and Core Argument Against Intellectual Property Description: The episode opens with Michael Malice introducing Stephan Kinsella, a libertarian patent attorney advocating for the abolition of intellectual property (IP). Kinsella presents his elevator pitch, arguing that IP laws create artificial scarcity for non-scarce resources like ideas, contrasting this with physical property rights that resolve conflicts over scarce resources. Malice challenges Kinsella with personal concerns about book piracy, leading to a discussion on the misconception that IP incentivizes creativity. Summary Points: 0:02 - 0:54: Malice introduces the show and Kinsella, highlighting his expertise in anti-IP philosophy. 1:24 - 2:01: Kinsella is introduced as an anarchist opposing IP, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. 2:01 - 3:25: Kinsella’s elevator pitch: IP restricts property use, creating conflict by protecting non-scarce information. 3:32 - 4:07: Malice cites his book-writing effort, questioning how creators profit without IP; Kinsella notes digital copying already bypasses IP. 4:25 - 5:54: Kinsella debunks the “stealing” metaphor, arguing copying doesn’t deprive creators of their work, only potential profits. 6:19 - 8:46: Discussion shifts to incentives; Kinsella argues property rights serve justice, not incentives, and competition naturally drives innovation. 9:40 - 14:04: Historical context: IP stems from monopoly privileges like the 1623 Statute of Monopolies; Jefferson viewed patents as monopolies. 14:09 - 15:00: Malice notes IP’s correlation with Western innovation, but Kinsella counters that correlation doesn’t prove causation. 15:00 - 30:00: Empirical Evidence and Cultural Impacts of IP Description: Kinsella delves into empirical studies showing IP’s limited or negative impact on innovation, particularly in pharmaceuticals, where regulatory barriers like FDA processes inflate costs. The conversation explores how IP distorts culture, using comic book copyright battles as a case study. A humorous debate clip with Robert Wenzel highlights the philosophical divide over IP’s legitimacy. Summary Points: 15:19 - 17:06: Studies (e.g., by Fritz Machlup) show no clear link between patents and innovation; some suggest patents hinder small companies. 17:12 - 20:04: Pharmaceutical innovation persists without patents in some countries; FDA regulations, not competition, drive high costs. 20:16 - 22:17: Kinsella cites Boldrin and Levine’s book, debunking IP myths; patent trolls and trivial patents (e.g., iPhone curves) harm innovation. 22:23 - 24:29: Supreme Court case (Oil States) confirms patents as government privileges, not natural rights. 24:30 - 26:08: Wenzel debate clip: Wenzel claims his “formula” is scarce; Kinsella argues information isn’t scarce, sparking a heated exchange. 26:14 - 28:03: Kinsella defends creator profits in an IP-free world, using J.K. Rowling’s potential crowdfunding success as an example. 28:16 - 30:00: Comic book IP battles (e.g., Captain Marvel, Superboy) illustrate how copyright stifles creativity and competition. 30:00 - 45:00: Practical Models and Government Intervention Description: The discussion pivots to practical alternatives to IP, such as crowdfunding and branding, which allow creators to profit without legal monopolies. Kinsella critiques government interventions like FDA regulations and copyright extensions, using the Martin Shkreli case to highlight how monopolistic privileges distort markets. The segment also touches on cultural industries like fashion, which thrive without IP. Summary Points: 30:04 - 32:02: Copyright battles over Captain Marvel and Superboy show how IP creates legal complexities, limiting creative output. 32:15 - 34:04: Marvel’s licensing issues (e.g., Spider-Man, Inhumans) demonstrate IP’s restrictive impact on storytelling. 34:17 - 36:26: Kinsella estimates patents cost $1 trillion annually in lost innovation; copyright distorts culture and internet freedom. 36:32 - 39:19: Fashion and perfume industries thrive without IP; Kickstarter could replace traditional publishing, empowering authors. 39:24 - 41:19: Historical publishing monopolies (e.g., Statute of Anne) favored publishers, not authors; internet breaks this model. 42:12 - 44:53: Shkreli’s price hike reflects FDA-granted monopolies, not free-market failures; government interventions compound problems. 45:00 - 1:05:20: Memes, Personal Health, and Medical Patents Description: The episode concludes with a lighter discussion of libertarian memes, specifically the “helicopter ride” meme tied to Hans-Hermann Hoppe, which sparked online controversy. Kinsella then shares his prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment via an innovative laser procedure, raising questions about patents in medical technology. The conversation wraps up with reflections on balancing humor, health, and IP’s broader implications. Summary Points: 45:09 - 49:07: Malice and Kinsella discuss the “helicopter ride” meme, linked to Pinochet and Hoppe, and its humorous yet controversial reception. 50:00 - 55:05: Kinsella recounts his prostate cancer diagnosis via high PSA levels and biopsy,

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 243. From my recent appearance on the Libertarian Christians podcast, discussing (what else) IP, with host Norman Horn from May 22, 2018. See also KOL388 | Cantus Firmus with Cody Cook: Against Intellectual Property, and “Libertarians and the Catholic Church on Intellectual Property Laws” (2012) and links therein. Youtube: https://youtu.be/mrcZJsnSMUw

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 242. I was a guest last night on Punching Left, with hosts Clifton Knox and David German, discussing argumentation ethics, estoppel, covenant communities, the non-aggression principle, physical removal, Hoppe, Propertarianism, Curt Doolittle, Austin Peterson, and so on. Youtube: https://youtu.be/bRsaVKXzYKk Related material: Kinsella, Defending Argumentation Ethics The Genesis of Estoppel: My Libertarian Rights Theory Revisiting Argumentation Ethics Argumentation Ethics and Liberty: A Concise Guide KOL228 | Argumentation Ethics – Lions of Liberty KOL218 | Argumentation Ethics – Patterson in Pursuit KOL161 | Argumentation Ethics, Estoppel, and Libertarian Rights: Adam Smith Forum, Moscow (2014) Hoppe’s Argumentation Ethics and Its Critics New Rationalist Directions in Libertarian Rights Theory, 12:2 Journal of Libertarian Studies: 313-26 (Fall 1996) Punishment and Proportionality: The Estoppel Approach, 12:1 Journal of Libertarian Studies 51 (Spring 1996) Hans Hermann Hoppe, “On The Ethics of Argumentation” (PFS 2016) Frank van Dun, “Argumentation Ethics and The Philosophy of Freedom” KOL181 | Tom Woods Show: It Is Impossible to Argue Against Libertarianism Without Contradiction The A priori of Argumention, video introduction by Hoppe Lecture 3 of my 2011 Mises Academy course, “The Social Theory of Hoppe” (slides here) Lecture 2 of my 2011 Mises Academy course, “Libertarian Legal Theory: Property, Conflict, and Society” (slides here)

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 241. I was a guest yesterday (3/26/18) on Dave Smith's podcast. His description: "Talking Libertarian Legal philosophy with Stephan Kinsella. Topics include how the court systems could work without government and why intellectual property isn't real." We discussed a wide-ranging but fairly high-level array of libertarian theory issues, including how I became a libertarian, the main influencers (Ayn Rand, Milton Friedman, Bastiat, Mises, Rothbard), property theory and scarcity, Hoppe's argumentation ethics, praxeology, dualism of various types, and, sigh, yes, intellectual property. Dave even worked in a funny joke about "The Man on the Moon" ... well you'll just have to see for yourself. But he stole it from Steve Martin. Good times. Youtube: https://youtu.be/bV4UFJQtxu4 Transcript below, as well as a Grok summary: Below is a summary of the discussion from the Part of the Problem podcast episode featuring Dave Smith and Stephan Kinsella, as aired on the provided YouTube link. The summary is organized into 10–15 bullet points with approximate time markers, based on the transcript provided. 0:00–1:15: Dave Smith opens the episode with a sponsor ad for stamps.com, highlighting its convenience for mailing services, available 24/7, and offering a four-week trial, postage, and a digital scale for new users who sign up with the promo code "problem." He encourages listeners to support the sponsor to help keep the show running. 1:21–1:43: The podcast intro emphasizes themes of freedom, questioning how the U.S. can claim to be the freest country while incarcerating more people than any other nation, reflecting on the growth of government from America’s founding to the present day. 1:55–3:37: Dave announces upcoming events, including a sold-out comedy show and podcast in Los Angeles, a meet-up with Jason Stapleton and others on March 31, and a debate at the Soho Forum on April 16 about fractional reserve banking featuring Bob Murphy and George Selgin. He also promotes the Contra Cruise (October 21–28), describing it as a libertarian vacation. 3:37–4:34: Dave introduces guest Stephan Kinsella, a libertarian writer and patent attorney, praising his insights into libertarian philosophy. Kinsella briefly describes his work, mentioning his legal practice in Texas and an upcoming book compiling essays on rights theory, intellectual property, and contract theory. 4:58–7:36: Kinsella shares his journey to libertarianism, sparked by reading Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead in high school, which led him to philosophy and economics, then to Murray Rothbard’s works. He transitioned from a Randian minarchist to an anarchist, influenced by Rand, Milton Friedman, and later Ron Paul, though his libertarian roots predate Paul’s prominence. 7:45–11:28: The discussion shifts to contemporary politics, with Dave expressing disappointment in Rand Paul for not fully carrying forward Ron Paul’s legacy, though acknowledging he’s still a strong senator. Kinsella notes he avoids political activism, finding Trump’s presidency entertaining and preferable to a Hillary Clinton administration, despite policy flaws like tariffs and neoconservative appointments. 11:45–16:28: Kinsella expresses skepticism about achieving an anarcho-capitalist society through political or intellectual activism, citing historical failures and societal resistance to libertarian ideas. He’s cautiously optimistic, believing technological advancements and wealth could naturally erode state power, making freedom a default rather than a persuaded ideal, referencing the fall of communism in 1990 as a cultural shift toward markets. 16:34–20:41: Dave and Kinsella discuss the irony of modern socialism’s appeal, noting that even leftists now reference Nordic models rather than pure socialism, a tacit victory for markets. Kinsella laments the ignorance of socialism’s historical failures among youth, attributing it to wealth-induced complacency in the West, where freedom is taken for granted. 20:49–23:12: Dave reflects on the libertarian obsession with opposing state mechanisms (wars, taxes, incarceration) that ideally wouldn’t exist, highlighting the altruistic streak in libertarians who advocate for systemic change over personal gain. Kinsella agrees, noting activism often demands sacrifice without direct reward. 23:24–33:17: The conversation turns to Hans-Hermann Hoppe’s argumentation ethics, which Kinsella explains as a proof of libertarianism rooted in the presuppositions of discourse. By engaging in argument, parties implicitly accept norms like non-coercion and self-ownership, making socialism’s coercive norms self-contradictory. Kinsella credits Hoppe’s logic for bypassing the is-ought problem, though notes resistance from other libertarians, possibly due to jealousy or preference for open-ended debate. 33:37–41:06: Dave praises Hoppe’s clarity, despite misrepresentations by critics and supporters alike, who falsely paint him as extreme. Kinsella ties argumentation ethics to praxeology, explaining that human action requires scarce resources (needing property rights to avoid conflict) and knowledge (non-scarce, thus not requiring rights), setting the stage for discussing intellectual property (IP). 41:27–50:44: Kinsella attributes libertarian appeal to a desire for consistency, contrasting this with other ideologies’ indifference to contradictions. He recommends foundational texts like Hazlitt’s Economics in One Lesson and Bastiat’s The Law for economic literacy, critical for libertarianism. The discussion briefly contrasts Austrian and Chicago school economics, with Kinsella favoring Mises, Rothbard, and Hoppe for their rigor and realism about the state. 50:51–58:20: Kinsella clarifies Hoppe’s Democracy: The God That Failed, emphasizing it doesn’t advocate monarchy but critiques democracy’s flaws compared to monarchy’s incentives for long-term stewardship. Dave notes democracy’s illusion of collective ownership enables greater state plunder, unlike monarchies where rulers are distinct from the ruled. They question correlations between democracy and prosperity, suggesting capitalism, not governance type, drives wealth. 58:32–1:16:20: Kinsella dismantles intellectual property, arguing it’s incompatible with libertarianism. Property rights apply to scarce resources to prevent conflict, not to non-scarce ideas, which anyone can use without depriving others. He critiques Locke’s labor theory of value for conflating creation with ownership, noting creation transforms owned resources, not generates new property. IP, like patents and copyrights, is a positive right that undermines negative rights, effectively redistributing control over physical resources under the guise of protecting innovation. 1:16:44–1:32:29: Addressing law in an anarcho-capitalist society, Kinsella envisions a system of customary and contractual norms enforced by insurance companies and arbitration, not state coercion. Restitution, not retribution, would dominate, with ostracism incentivizing compliance. He contrasts this with state-driven wars and taxation, suggesting freedom’s risks are preferable. Dave wraps up, thanking Kinsella, who directs listeners to his website (stephankinsella.com) for more, humorously dubbing Dave the “smartest funny guy.” This summary captures the key themes and arguments, maintaining brevity while covering the breadth of the hour-long discussion. Youtube transcript: 0:00 [KOL241: Dave Smith Part of the Problem Show] DAVE SMITH: All right, guys, today's episode is brought to you by stamps.com, which is a wonderful service. 0:06 Everybody here at Gas Digital uses it, stamps.com. It provides you with basically all of the services of the post office. 0:13 You can print postage for any mail class, right from your own computer. The beauty of that is that, unlike the post office, it's 24/7, and you don't have to waste time traveling to and from the post office. 0:24 And everyone in business knows when you're wasting time, you're wasting money, and that's how businesses go out of business. They burn up too much capital, so go to stamps.com. It's a great service, makes life much more convenient. 0:34 Everyone's got to ship stuff, and stamps.com brings all those great services right to you. So right now, if you go to stamps.com, they're going to give you a pretty sweet deal. 0:46 Okay, it includes a four-week trial, plus postage and a digital scale. All you’ve got to do is go to stamps.com, click on the microphone at the top of the homepage, and type in problem@stamps.com. 0:57 You click on the microphone and you type in problem, and you get that four-week trial plus postage and a digital scale. Guys, stamps.com has been sponsoring us for a while. They're helping make this show possible. 1:06 Do us a favor. Go support the people who support us. Try the service out. Save yourself some time. Add some convenience to your life, and help out the show that you love: stamps.com. 1:15 1:21 M: You're listening to Part of the Problem on the Gas Digital Network. DAVE SMITH: How can you be the freest country in the world when you lock more of your own people in cages than any other country in the world? 1:31 The lesson of 9/11 should have been to never fund another young rebel group in this part of the world again. 1:37 America’s saga is the smallest government in history, and it's become the biggest government in the world to this day. 1:43 At the end of the day, it's all about freedom. M: Here's your host, Dave Smith. DAVE SMITH: Oh hello, hello, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to a brand new episode of Part of the Problem. 1:55 I am, of course, Dave Smith. We got a great show planned for you guys today.

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 240. https://youtu.be/hXw9BWKXChk From Episode 23 of Cameron Talks Science. Episode 23: Patents and Paywalls: How IP Stifles Scientific Innovation: Stephan Kinsella February 11, 2018 Cameron English The accepted wisdom tells us that intellectual property (IP) laws encourage innovation. Without legal protection for their discoveries, scientists would have no incentive to conduct research and we would lose out on "...life-changing and life-saving new treatments that bring hope to doctors, patients, and patients' families worldwide. " That's a nice story, but my guest today says this seemingly self-evident truth is entirely incorrect. Far from fostering innovation in the sciences, patent attorney and legal scholar Stephan Kinesella argues that intellectual property hampers competition and thus stifles the discovery of new medicines and other technologies. Every year businesses waste millions of dollars in court defending their patents and divert resources away from research and development. This perverse system keeps smaller companies from out-competing established firms and severely limits consumer choice throughout the economy. Moreover, copyright protections allow major publishers to lock original scientific research behind paywalls and charge obscene prices to anyone who wants to access the content, even though much of the work is financed by taxpayers. Paradoxically, then, IP laws have allowed giant corporations and federal bureaucracies to tightly restrict the production and distribution of scientific knowledge. Listen in as Stephan and I discuss how this broken system came to be and what we can do to replace it.