Oursis an era when human genes can be copied and patented. From geneticallymodified foods to digital piracy, the concept of intellectual property (IP) andthe laws upholding it play a foundational role in our society, but itspolitical and ideological dimensions have rarely been understood outside ofspecialist circles. This collection cuts through the legal jargon that so oftensurrounds IP, to provide both a comprehensive history and analysis thatexplores the corporate interests that shape its conception and the movementsthat are developing alternatives.As the nature of industrychanges, we might ask: what are the wider implications of the concept of IP, beit for agribusiness and pharmaceutical companies or the film and musicindustries? Has IP law has been used to safeguard and assert the ownership ofideas and creativity, or is it an essential foundation of our culture?Today, with mounting challengesfrom the growth of free software and open source movements, this collectionprovides an accessible and alternative guide to IP, exploring its significancewithin the wider struggle between capital and the commons.