[ralfy]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Graeme', 'R'), My last post illustrates how important in monetary terms IP is to the economy. I can't tell you what proportion of IP in 2010 contributes toward sustainability because it is a complex issue. In any case, we have around 20-30 years to convert the global economy toward a sustainable one because that is when the global population stabilizes and begins to fall (see population thread).

To illustrate the complexity, I can refer you to the appropriate UN body who administer through the WTO sustainable IP issues. You are welcome to read all the links on this page. For example, in the link in the text on International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development, you can see on the bottom right another link on the Summary: International Technology Diffusion in a Sustainable Energy Trade Agreement. Within that summary, you can see a pdf which lists a checklist of "potential technology diffusion elements for a Sustainable Energy Trade Agreement (SETA)".

Furthermore, I started a thread on sustainable (steady-state) economics. Please read links in my latest post on SEF and Constanza who discuss the issues you raised.

[ralfy]

I forgot to add that IP works in the same way as private property, which is one of the reasons for the development of modern capitalism.

From what I remember, private property started with land owned by no one but used by everyone for planting, etc., enclosed by armed men who argued that the land was now owned by a few. Most could still plant, etc., but were paid in scrip or other means, with the new-owners of the land taking what was produced and profiting from it.

IP works in the same way, except that during earlier periods ownership was limited to only a few years. Later, the period of ownership was lengthened readily, as businesses began to profit more from information than from food production, etc.

Thus, what IP is supposed to save it, together with other means (financial speculation, etc.), created: a global capitalist economy that requires continuous economic growth.