The Knockoff Economy

Résumé du livre

Kal Raustiala is a professor of law at UCLA as well as the author of Does the Constitution Follow the Flag? His research focuses primarily on international law, international relations and intellectual property.

Social norms often substitute for copyright laws in curbing excessive copying, as seen in fields like comedy and haute cuisine, where originality is respected and imitation is regulated informally. Industries such as fashion and culinary arts thrive on imitation, with copying spurring innovation and maintaining competitive cycles. Conversely, strict copyright laws in music and film can stifle creativity by limiting the ability to draw inspiration from existing works. Historical examples, like Thomas Edison’s refinement of earlier lightbulb designs, and modern practices, such as open-source programming or tweaking strategies in sports and technology, demonstrate how replication fosters progress. Even in industries facing challenges from piracy, such as music and film, adaptation and innovation—like Radiohead’s pay-what-you-want album release or premium theater experiences—highlight how creativity and profitability can coexist in a world where copying is inevitable.

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