The biggest recent copyright case is Google's book digitisation project. Authors and publishers wanted a slice of the pie that they thought Google was getting for free.

In the US, they were successful in their demands and Google is now paying out millions to these parties and has set up a Book Rights Registry to administer the process.

But what are the broader implications for intellectual property and the cultural heritage of ideas?

Guests

Lynne Spender
Editor, writer and digital consultant. Lynne's Meanjin article is called 'The Question of Literary Property' and asks whether intellectual property can be owned. Her latest book is Between the Lines: A Legal Guide for Writers and Illustrators.

Morris Gleitzman
Australian children's author. Morris will write a response in the next Meanjin to Lynne Spender's article.