Chapter 4 Intellectual Property

Paper Summary: Chapter 4

The movie “The Giver (2014)” explores the tension between intellectual property rights over human emotions in a society that tries to achieve utopia by controlling access to memory, culture, and history. The movie questions the ethical and legal implications of restricting or protecting the creations of the mind from others through the concept of “sameness.”

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The movie portrays memories as intellectual property that the Elders monopolize to maintain a utopian uniformity. However, it also reveals the Elders’ violation of human rights by stripping people of their memories and emotions and enforcing a system that suppresses individuality and creativity. For instance, Jonas experiences excitement and attraction when he sees the color red in Fiona’s hair for the first time. He also discovers the emotions and memories that his community lacks, such as the joy of sledding and the warmth of a family with Gabe. Essentially, the movie illustrates the importance of intellectual property rights for human emotions and memories which are essential for human dignity and freedom. The movie also depicts the consequences of conformity and complacency that result from the violation of intellectual rights. People lose their ability to think critically or independently and become vulnerable to manipulation by a higher authority such as the Elders. For instance, Jonas’s father, a nurse, injects babies with a lethal dose without any remorse or hesitation. This shows how the absence of emotions and memories affects a human’s identity and moral judgment. The father does not feel any attachment to the babies nor realize that he is killing them. Hence, the Elders’ deception in the movie destroys the richness and complexity of life, as the people only know a bland and artificial version of reality without any connection to their history.

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Although the movie presents a dystopian society that suppresses any intellectual property rights. However, the government, which is governed by a strict set of rules, eliminates any conflicts and wars by enforcing “sameness”. Moreover, since all knowledge is shared and everyone has equal access to technology, it prevents any suffering. In this futuristic society, everyone lives in harmony and conformity, with no memories of the past that could cause disputes or debates over human values. Although the Elders rob people of their humanity and diversity, they justify it as a sacrifice for the common good rather than individual prosperity.

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The dystopia avoids suffering by eliminating all forms of enrichment, such as creative art, music, literature, and culture. These forms of expression allow humans to celebrate their individuality and connect with others across time and space. They also challenge and question the status quo and offer alternative perspectives and possibilities for human society. However, they also pose risks and threats to human existence, as they can evoke positive or negative emotions, create beauty or ugliness, inspire hope or despair, and promote harmony or conflict. The movie shows how the Elders use advanced technology, such as transmission or daily injections, to suppress emotions. For example, Jonas feels wonder and beauty when he hears music for the first time. Also, the Chief Elder stops him from teaching his sister how to dance and laugh through VR transmission. The movie shows the need for a balance between protecting intellectual property rights and promoting access to knowledge and culture. This can be achieved by allowing fair use and sharing of information, while also respecting and rewarding the original creators and sources. The movie also shows the need for privacy and consent when it comes to personal data and information. This can be achieved by establishing clear and transparent policies and regulations that protect people’s rights and interests, while also educating them about their responsibilities and risks.