Most of the aforementioned economists writing or criticizing IP were liberals (such as Plant or Machlup; for a detail of libertarian perspectives see Kinsella [14, p. 8]) and it is interesting that also on the political left there is little criticism on intellectual property (a notable albeit isolated exception, Proudhon, [27], but nothing can be found e.g. in the works of Marx. Ironically, socialist parties rather seem have to become defenders of e.g. patents on behalf of the inventors, e.g. ''The inventor, if he wishes to defend his intellectual property against capitalist pirates, must begin by buying that right, taking out a patent, which he must renew every year; on the day he misses a payment, his intellectual property becomes the lawful prey of the robbers of capitalism. Even if he pays, he can secure that right only for a time: in France, fourteen years. And during these few years, not long enough generally to get his invention fully introduced into practical industry, it is he, the inventor, who at his own expense has to set in motion the machinery of the law against the capitalist pirates who rob him. ''[16] (Lafargue, son-in-law to Marx, was in the French socialist party).
Also Lafargues next conclusion is diametrically opposed to the author's conclusions: '' The trade-mark, which is a capitalistic property that never required ally intellectual effort, is on the contrary indefinitely protected by law like material property.'' [16].
Gispen [10] writing on the genesis of the employee inventors law created in Nazi Germany gives a nice example how bipartisan these overtones can be ''Especially on the forefront of the movement there were many voices that not only the working masses but also the knowledge workers are exposed to capitalist domination. For these aspects the Fuhrer doubtless had great interest''.
Still today even social democrat governments in Europe still push IPization of academic research for better marketization (e.g. German's minister of education Bulmahn ''To generate new patents and market-ready products the results of public research must be better utilized. By a new marketization iniative the process from idea generation to patenting shall be recognized and strengthened. With over 100 million DM networks of patent and utilization agencies are founded and patent subsidies for creating enterprses are provided''.[25]
Now that the problems with software IP have become visible, parties, philosophers and politicians should back a broader dialogue. (The fact that some IP laws are governed by international treaties such as TRIPS is no counterargument; at least one can try to change the treaties.) I would like to finish this section with a quote from an MPAA copyright press release: ''For in the end, this is not only a fight about the protection of music or movies, software code or video games. Nor is it a fight about technology's promise or its limitations. This is, at its core, quite simply about right and wrong. Thank you for letting me speak from the heart.'' [4]