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Capital, knowledge and ownership : the information society and intellectual property.

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Capital, knowledge and ownership : the information society and intellectual property. / May, Christopher.
In: Information, Communication and Society, Vol. 1, No. 3, 1998, p. 246-269.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

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May C. Capital, knowledge and ownership : the information society and intellectual property. Information, Communication and Society. 1998;1(3):246-269. doi: 10.1080/13691189809358969

Author

May, Christopher. / Capital, knowledge and ownership : the information society and intellectual property. In: Information, Communication and Society. 1998 ; Vol. 1, No. 3. pp. 246-269.

Bibtex

@article{5b789347585a42919d746797282dda9f,
title = "Capital, knowledge and ownership : the information society and intellectual property.",
abstract = "The argument that the information society represents 'something new' is predicated on the claim that its use of a new resource — knowledge/information — fundamentally differentiates it from previous systems of capitalism. However the actual organization of the posited information society constructs a widespread recognition of the legitimacy of intellectual property. The article examines the two central claims for transformation made in the information society discourse: that information is a new resource, and that increasingly it is theoretical or symbolic knowledge that is valued. However, neither shift has produced a change in the relations of production, and much that is claimed as new in information society is actually the fragmentation of the social division of labour. Though there have been changes in the forms of production, the relations of production remain organized on the basis of property, though often now intellectual property. This reveals the discourse of information society as a justification for the intensification of capitalism, not an account of its transformation.",
keywords = "Capitalism, division of labour, information society, intellectual property rights",
author = "Christopher May",
year = "1998",
doi = "10.1080/13691189809358969",
language = "English",
volume = "1",
pages = "246--269",
journal = "Information, Communication and Society",
issn = "1369-118X",
publisher = "Routledge",
number = "3",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Capital, knowledge and ownership : the information society and intellectual property.

AU - May, Christopher

PY - 1998

Y1 - 1998

N2 - The argument that the information society represents 'something new' is predicated on the claim that its use of a new resource — knowledge/information — fundamentally differentiates it from previous systems of capitalism. However the actual organization of the posited information society constructs a widespread recognition of the legitimacy of intellectual property. The article examines the two central claims for transformation made in the information society discourse: that information is a new resource, and that increasingly it is theoretical or symbolic knowledge that is valued. However, neither shift has produced a change in the relations of production, and much that is claimed as new in information society is actually the fragmentation of the social division of labour. Though there have been changes in the forms of production, the relations of production remain organized on the basis of property, though often now intellectual property. This reveals the discourse of information society as a justification for the intensification of capitalism, not an account of its transformation.

AB - The argument that the information society represents 'something new' is predicated on the claim that its use of a new resource — knowledge/information — fundamentally differentiates it from previous systems of capitalism. However the actual organization of the posited information society constructs a widespread recognition of the legitimacy of intellectual property. The article examines the two central claims for transformation made in the information society discourse: that information is a new resource, and that increasingly it is theoretical or symbolic knowledge that is valued. However, neither shift has produced a change in the relations of production, and much that is claimed as new in information society is actually the fragmentation of the social division of labour. Though there have been changes in the forms of production, the relations of production remain organized on the basis of property, though often now intellectual property. This reveals the discourse of information society as a justification for the intensification of capitalism, not an account of its transformation.

KW - Capitalism

KW - division of labour

KW - information society

KW - intellectual property rights

U2 - 10.1080/13691189809358969

DO - 10.1080/13691189809358969

M3 - Journal article

VL - 1

SP - 246

EP - 269

JO - Information, Communication and Society

JF - Information, Communication and Society

SN - 1369-118X

IS - 3

ER -