In 1961 Machlup argued that the debate on patents was nothing than a repetition of older arguments (''Indeed one would not be able to quote a 20th century author if one wanted always only quote the first and true inventor of an argument on the value of the patent system'' [19]). I think that with the advent of modern reproduction technology the bias has shifted considerably against strong IP protection but I agree that at least most philosophical arguments in favor of IP have not changed, so I would like to use history to deconstruct the ''natural rights'' notion of IP (so that only contract theory is left). Many accounts of IP history treat patents, copyright and trademarks separately (or exclusively). Because our aim is simply to deconstruct the natural law theory as a mixture of 'tragedy of the commons' plus domino effect, the liberty is taken to mix everything up - after all it is not accidental that the first fixed durations in copyright and patents began both with 14 years.