Property Rights vs. Right to Knowledge: The Multi-Faceted Dilemma (Case Study: Software Piracy in Developing Countries)

Abstract

Innovation is often described as key factors of competitiveness, as the driving force of the economy or as the basis of growth. This may be somewhat exaggerated, but it must be admitted that there cannot be any scientific advances without innovations, both are somewhat synonymous and correlated by a causal link. However, a paradox lies behind this reasoning: Property rights, measures to protect innovation and creativity and aims to encourage more innovations and creativityā€¦but do these protective measures not hamper the development of knowledge and its dissemination? Did not property rights become a shovel that serves to deepen the know-how gap between the South and the North? It is widely known that, only, those who pay have the right to educate themselves, while the less fortunate remain held hostage and forced and obliged to follow in order to survive. Indeed, some of the arguments put forward above are pure sophistry, but are often used either by the adepts of the Robinā€™s hood ideal or by the defenders of the sacrosanct right of property. This work aims to ascertain what, why and how not to respect the right to property, and notably software piracy, not to justify the practice, but to confront this phenomenon with the arguments of property rights and to demonstrate the selfishness and deception that lie behind the curtain of each camp, and subjecting them to the socio-cultural and economic realities of the developing countries, and demonstrate with concrete cases, that a consensus is possible.

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Author Information
Zoheir Tafer, University of Bechar, Algeria
Mohamed Abbar, University of Bechar, Algeria

• Category: ECSS2017, Oral Presentation
• Tag: Economics and Management,

Posted by James Alexander Gordon

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