The internet was supposed to be the great equalizer—a place where ideas, knowledge, and creativity could flow freely, connecting minds across the world. Instead, it has become a chaotic battleground of misinformation, clickbait, and half-baked opinions drowning out the voices of experts and innovators. How did we get here? The answer, in part, lies in the tangled web of intellectual property (IP) laws that shape the way we share and access information.
As a broke creative trying to make a dent in the world of art and engineering, I’ve seen firsthand how the system stifles the very thing it claims to protect: innovation. The fundamental problem with intellectual property today isn’t the idea of protecting creators—it’s how IP laws have been weaponized to hoard knowledge, restrict access, and preserve the status quo for those already at the top.
Take, for instance, the fact that some of the most accurate and groundbreaking research is locked behind paywalls, sitting in journals that charge obscene amounts for access. These journals don’t pay the scientists who write the papers. They don’t pay the reviewers who vet the work. They simply slap a price tag on it and call it a day. Meanwhile, anyone with an internet connection—regardless of their qualifications or expertise—can publish their thoughts on a subject, no matter how flawed or outright wrong they are. The result? A digital landscape where misinformation spreads faster than facts, and genuine knowledge becomes a privilege rather than a right.
But the problem doesn’t end with access. For creatives and innovators like me, IP laws create an uneven playing field that favors the wealthy and powerful. If a corporation decides to “borrow” an idea or design, good luck fighting them in court without a mountain of cash and a team of lawyers. Even when you’re in the right, the legal system’s complexity and expense make it almost impossible to defend your work. On the flip side, those same corporations have the resources to enforce their own IP with an iron fist, whether their claims are valid or not. This isn’t protection—it’s gatekeeping.
What’s worse, these laws don’t just harm individuals; they stifle progress for everyone. Knowledge grows best when it’s shared and built upon, not when it’s hoarded and fenced off. Imagine if the blueprints for the printing press, the steam engine, or even the internet itself had been locked away behind modern IP laws. How much slower would our progress have been? How many ideas would have withered on the vine because their creators couldn’t pay for access or afford to fight off theft?
A restructured approach to intellectual property could unlock unprecedented benefits, particularly in fields like search technology, artificial intelligence (AI) learning, and scientific advancement. By allowing broader access to data and knowledge, we would empower AI systems to learn from the most accurate, diverse, and up-to-date sources, rather than relying on limited or incomplete datasets. This democratization of information would accelerate breakthroughs in AI, enabling smarter, more efficient tools that could revolutionize industries from healthcare to engineering. Imagine AI models trained on a truly comprehensive and collaborative global knowledge base—the possibilities for innovation would be boundless.
In science, open access to research and data would push the edges of discovery faster and more effectively than ever before. Researchers would no longer have to navigate a labyrinth of paywalls or restrictive licensing agreements to build on existing work. Instead, knowledge could flow freely, fostering a culture of collaboration that benefits everyone. Vaccines, renewable energy technologies, and climate solutions could be developed and disseminated more rapidly, addressing global challenges in real time. The collective progress of humanity should never be held hostage by the highest bidder.
If we want to move forward as a species, we need to rethink how we handle intellectual property. We need a system that democratizes knowledge and fosters collaboration, not one that prioritizes profit and control. What if we treated knowledge as a public good, like clean water or air? What if access to research, education, and tools wasn’t limited by your ability to pay? What if the laws that govern IP were designed to empower creators, not corporations?
I’m not saying we should abolish intellectual property altogether. Creators deserve to be recognized and compensated for their work. But the current system is broken. It’s a relic of a time when information was scarce and difficult to distribute. Today, in an age where sharing knowledge is as easy as clicking a button, we need a new approach—one that prioritizes equity, accessibility, and the collective good.
It’s time to start asking the hard questions. How do we balance the rights of creators with the need for open access to information? How do we ensure that the voices of experts and innovators aren’t drowned out by the noise of the internet? And most importantly, how do we create a system that allows everyone—regardless of their background or resources—to contribute to and benefit from the wealth of human knowledge?
These aren’t easy problems to solve, but if we don’t address them, we risk stagnation. We risk letting the internet’s potential as a tool for growth and discovery slip away. For creatives like me, and for anyone who believes in the power of ideas, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The future of innovation depends on it.
