Chapter 6

This chapter addresses the use of collaboration in the sciences. The authors point out that scientific innovation has always depended on collaboration and the exchange of ideas but that the recent trend of privatization and protectionism has led to constrictions in idea exchange and fewer innovations. They propose that our laws need to be adapted to allow for the protection of ideas without restricting their exchange. Current patent and copyright laws have led to much information being kept from the public or other innovators which restrict the amount of innovation that can occur.