The book links the practices and regimes of the past with those of contemporary and emerging forms, covering the mid-19th century to the present. The contributors are noted scholars from various disciplines including history of science and technology, intellectual property law, and innovation studies. The chapters offer original perspectives on how proprietary regimes in knowledge production processes have developed as a socio-political phenomenon of modernity, as well as providing an analysis of the way individuals, institutions and techno-sciences interact within this culture.

With in-depth analysis, this book will appeal to academics and students of STS (Science, Technology and Society), history of science and technology, business history, innovation studies, law, science and technology policy as well as business studies. Historians of science and technology and business will also find much to interest them in this book.

Contributors: S. Arapostathis, E. Bruton, B. Charnley, B. de Jonge, G. Dutfield, A. Fickers, P. Israel, M. Korthals, E. Kranakis, T. Lekkas, N. Louwaars, A.R. Maestrejuan, J. Mercelis, S.W. Morris, P. Munyi, S. Turchetti, H. van den Belt