From Babylon to the Silicon Valley - The Origins and Evolution of Intellectual Property' shows a historical pattern of the ascent of intellectual property in the course of a few millennia as a tool that supports commercial rivalry, free trade and entrepreneurship. Intellectual property has been the subject of much controversy around the globe. Entrepreneurs see it as a tool for ensuring success in their commercial activities. At its core, intellectual property today is the same as it was 6,000 years ago: an instrument for the assertion of the identities of merchants and manufacturers in their struggle to lure customers with honesty and fairness. It arises spontaneously whenever and wherever entrepreneurs carry out their professions in an environment of competition. This book, the first of its kind, presents more than two hundred sources going back to ancient Egypt, sharply detailing the evolution of intellectual property right up to its current prominence in global trade and international law.