Comments on: The stupidest thing about the way we administer intellectual property law is . . . ? http://clubtroppo.com.au/2009/04/08/the-stupidest-thing-about-the-way-we-administer-intellectual-property-law-is/ Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:49:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Tel_ http://clubtroppo.com.au/2009/04/08/the-stupidest-thing-about-the-way-we-administer-intellectual-property-law-is/#comment-353023 Tel_ Sat, 11 Apr 2009 04:25:50 +0000 http://clubtroppo.com.au/?p=7962#comment-353023 Might be relevant: conference on this very topic coming up 16-17 April 2009 in Sydney. http://cyberlawcentre.org/unlocking-ip/2009/index.htm Hopefully we have got a bit past the slavish belief that the USA will look after us if only we give with all our hearts. Trading in China will no doubt be the next big step (but a tricky one). Might be relevant: conference on this very topic coming up 16-17 April 2009 in Sydney.

http://cyberlawcentre.org/unlocking-ip/2009/index.htm

Hopefully we have got a bit past the slavish belief that the USA will look after us if only we give with all our hearts. Trading in China will no doubt be the next big step (but a tricky one).

]]> By: derrida derider http://clubtroppo.com.au/2009/04/08/the-stupidest-thing-about-the-way-we-administer-intellectual-property-law-is/#comment-352814 derrida derider Thu, 09 Apr 2009 04:03:12 +0000 http://clubtroppo.com.au/?p=7962#comment-352814 OK, Nic, maybe I'm a bit too zealous in stamping out heresy - my apologies. Though you gotta admit this particular heresy has often called forth strange demons of industrial policy, so putting the odd heretic on the rack may not be such a terrible thing. On the substantive issue in the article, of course you're right. A lot of us (including you, IIRC) pointed out at the time of its adoption just how expensive - not to mention restrictive of trade - the IP provisions of the FTA are. As I said at the time "What do I think of a Free Trade Agreement with the US? I think it would be a good idea". OK, Nic, maybe I’m a bit too zealous in stamping out heresy – my apologies. Though you gotta admit this particular heresy has often called forth strange demons of industrial policy, so putting the odd heretic on the rack may not be such a terrible thing.

On the substantive issue in the article, of course you’re right. A lot of us (including you, IIRC) pointed out at the time of its adoption just how expensive – not to mention restrictive of trade – the IP provisions of the FTA are. As I said at the time “What do I think of a Free Trade Agreement with the US? I think it would be a good idea”.

]]> By: Nicholas Gruen http://clubtroppo.com.au/2009/04/08/the-stupidest-thing-about-the-way-we-administer-intellectual-property-law-is/#comment-352749 Nicholas Gruen Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:04:13 +0000 http://clubtroppo.com.au/?p=7962#comment-352749 DD, As you'd note, the case for this does not depend on mercantilism, but some of us like to think that in a small country that used to be chronically inwardly oriented, it makes sense to try to ensure that governments are not getting in the way of exports. But as you say - and as I intimated in the piece - increasing savings is crucial. I guess I should have had a big sign saying "SECRET ECONOMISTS' HANDSHAKE" in the piece just before the relevant sentence, but I don't think the paper would have liked it. DD,

As you’d note, the case for this does not depend on mercantilism, but some of us like to think that in a small country that used to be chronically inwardly oriented, it makes sense to try to ensure that governments are not getting in the way of exports. But as you say – and as I intimated in the piece – increasing savings is crucial.

I guess I should have had a big sign saying “SECRET ECONOMISTS’ HANDSHAKE” in the piece just before the relevant sentence, but I don’t think the paper would have liked it.

]]> By: derrida derider http://clubtroppo.com.au/2009/04/08/the-stupidest-thing-about-the-way-we-administer-intellectual-property-law-is/#comment-352726 derrida derider Wed, 08 Apr 2009 01:17:32 +0000 http://clubtroppo.com.au/?p=7962#comment-352726 <i>to get on top of our ballooning current account deficit and resulting rising debt we need to put less effort into consumption and more into exporting</i> Less effort into consumption, yes, but more into exporting? With a floating currency that's not true. The size of your current account deficit is a product of the relation between domestic saving and domestic investment; how much you export and import is just a result of that. This isn't just nitpicking - in present circumstances popular mercantilist beliefs could do real damage. to get on top of our ballooning current account deficit and resulting rising debt we need to put less effort into consumption and more into exporting

Less effort into consumption, yes, but more into exporting? With a floating currency that’s not true. The size of your current account deficit is a product of the relation between domestic saving and domestic investment; how much you export and import is just a result of that.

This isn’t just nitpicking – in present circumstances popular mercantilist beliefs could do real damage.

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