2026/02/13 by Rémy Guichardaz · 1 voice
Business, Management and Accounting · Computer Science · #Copyright and Intellectual Property #History of Computing Technologies #Intellectual Property and Patents
paper · doi:10.1080/09672567.2026.2628555
openalex publication_date 2026/02/13 · openalex created_date 2026/02/14 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22
This paper examines Henry C. Carey’s critique of copyright in nineteenth-century America. While Carey’s position emerged in the context of debates over extending copyright to British authors, the paper shows that his arguments led to a broader critique of monopolistic practices in the U.S. publishing market and ultimately of the principle of copyright itself. Copyright, by its very nature, conflicts with Carey’s ideal of economic development, which integrates economic concentration with political decentralisation. Comparing Carey’s views with those of Augustin-Charles Renouard, the paper suggests that a license-based alternative aligns better with Carey’s vision of economic development.