The Psychology of Intellectual Property

The success of intellectual property (IP) systems depends on their ability to influence human behaviour in relation to creativity and innovation. Understanding how people react to and are influenced by intellectual property systems is therefore critical to their design. The psychology of intellectual property is an area rich with opportunities for further exploration using various research methodologies. In particular, this is a field where human subjects research on the design and implementation of intellectual property systems can be of great value. Such approaches can include both laboratory and field experimental designs, and qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The chapter explores these approaches through a survey of research on three broad areas where human psychology plays an outsized role in intellectual property systems: heuristics and biases in intellectual property law, whether and how intellectual property laws motivate creativity, and popular understanding of intellectual property law.