User:RM395/Course/Encyclopedia comparisons/Information-01152001

Comparison of Encyclopedia Entries: "Intellectual Property"
--Information-01152001 (talk) 15:33, 18 February 2013 (UTC)

I compared two encyclopedia entries on the issue of intellectual property: (1) the official Wikipedia page, and (2) Stephan Kinsella's "Against Intellectual Property" (Ludwig von Mises Institute, 2008). The latter isn't a true encyclopedia by any means (even though we've been debating the definition of that word in class); however, I really wanted to write about IP and couldn't get my hands on any other physical publication that covers the issue in such general, albeit biased, depth.

Content and Details
Both encyclopedia entries are almost identical in content. The begin with "Type of IP" and proceed to define copyright, patent, trade secret, and trademark. Afterward they both explain why many people criticize the existence of intellectual property. In this section, Kinsella focuses mostly on the libertarian standpoint while Wiki diverts into communism, et cetera. I found that both encyclopedias, as mentioned above, largely take on the same content, which I believe is a result of Kinsella having written the book during the Internet age.

I expect future books will also begin to mimic the online encyclopedia format.

Presentation and Layout
The Wiki page is a medium-length explanation of intellectual property, and it has a long "Notes" section. This is always a good sign when reading Wiki pages. It means the authors were quick and objective when writing; too many details often fall ill to the woes of editorializing, accidental or not. With 78 external sources, readers can be assured that most of the content within can be proven beyond reasonable doubt. And, if they don't believe it at first glance, they can always check it out themselves. Another fantastic thing about the Wiki page (and about the Internet in general): hyperlinks. The IP page is completely filled with little blue links, so a conversation about related issues is only one click away, including the history of copyright law, the history of patent law, industrial design rights, artificial scarcity, et cetera. And these few examples are all within Wikipedia itself; you don't even have to leave the (free) website.

Kinsella's book, a lot like the Wiki page, is shorter than most. Not only does this ease the reader's expectations but assures them that they'll be pointed in the right direction for further information. The bibliography alone is eight pages long, and Kinsella does his best to place instructions (to the bibliography) on the same page on which the citation is referenced. It's very helpful, but, while it's best way the physical world can replicate hyperlinks, it's just not the same as clicking your way through everything. The physical copy does compete with the Internet in terms of splitting chapters and sections. It's a lot more enjoyable to turn the page for a new section rather than merely scroll down. Wiki pages often give you the feeling that they're endless.

Conclusion
I'll always be one of those "Keep it real, muthafucka!" people when it comes to physical books. I feel that physical copies are easier to annotate, less fragile than the ever-changing Web, and will ultimately be enhanced (not ruined) by the Internet. The fact that an organization explicitly published Kinsella's work -- thereby offering its name and reputation as partner -- also gives credence to the book's legitimacy. Look at the Wiki page and you'll see IP addresses, which are nonsense to most people. And, for those of us who know how to look people up, they still could have been using Tor. We'll never know who they are.