A History of Intellectual Property in 50 Objects (Cambridge University Press) is a book that focuses on 50 objects to tell a history of the intellectual property system, and why it matters today. The book brings together an interesting group of interdisciplinary scholars to tell a wide-ranging audience why they should care about intellectual property. With a focus on accessible objects, such as the light bulb, the Singer sewing machine, the Lego block and Mike Tyson’s tattoo, the book features 50 short and highly-illustrated chapter entries to make these complicated laws available and interesting to all.

You can read the chapter on the Escalator here, and the one on the Photocopier here. You can read one of the first reactions to the book here, and you can listen to one of the editors explain the idea behind the book here. Get your own copy for 22 GBP here.

The book, edited by CIPPM’s  Claudy Op den Kamp with Dan Hunter (Swinburne University of Technology), features contributions from CIPPM Faculty Members Maurizio Borghi (Player Piano Roll), Melanie Brown (Oral Contraceptive Pill) and Dinusha Mendis (3D Printer).