ICES Seminar in Experimental Economics and Game Theory
You Wouldn't Steal a Car: Moral Intuition for Intellectual Property
Friday, May 2, 2025 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM EDT
Vernon Smith Hall (formerly Metropolitan Building), 5183
The ICES Seminar in Experimental Economics and Game Theory of the Spring 2025 semester will feature:
Samford University
You Wouldn't Steal a Car: Moral Intuition for Intellectual Property
Abstract
Our experiment compares responses to the taking of rivalrous goods ("seeds") versus nonrivalrous goods ("discs"). Analysis of chat transcripts revealed that "stealing" language was used exclusively for rivalrous goods, despite disc taking occurring more frequently. Moreover, only seed taking triggered negative emotional shifts in conversations, which otherwise focused mainly on resource use and trading. These findings illuminate why digital piracy in the internet age generates different moral intuitions than physical theft—our moral frameworks appear linked to rivalry rather than taking itself. This challenges intellectual property law frameworks developed before widespread digital sharing.
For more information about the Seminar Series, please visit the Seminar Schedule homepage.
