To Invent Is Divine

Overview

Christians generally know that God created “the heavens and the earth” and made human beings in his image. They know that “the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof”—he owns his creations. They know that skilled people create and own marvelous works. But a disconnect often occurs when it comes to God’s communicable attributes of creativity and ownership and that combination’s role in human innovation, technological progress, and practical benefits from human creativity and ownership. To Invent Is Divine connects the dots between creativity and ownership, as well as the dots between that combination and the fruits of human flourishing.

Reviews

“Jim Edwards’s captivating book [To Invent Is Divine] interweaves fundamental reli­gious thought with intellectual property and patent law, a synthesis as fascinating as it is novel. He combines inventor stories with legal and religious principles that seem well matched, adding momentum to his presentation.” —Hon. Paul R. Michel, chief judge (ret.), U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

“Public policy discussions of intellectual property rights typically center on purely material concerns, such as the creation, ownership, or distribution of IP-generated wealth. James Edwards’s provocative new book, To Invent Is Divine, transcends the typical narrative by highlighting the Judeo-Christian understanding that the ‘creative human spark’ behind IP comes from God—the Creator of man and the Author of all that is good.” —Alden F. Abbott, senior research fellow, Mercatus Center, George Mason University, and former general counsel, Federal Trade Commission

“To Invent Is Divine is a tour de force of theology, political theory, intellectual history, and intellectual property law. Its description of the historical development and legal details of the U.S. patent system is especially impressive… Edwards brilliantly makes the case that the success of America as the shining city on the hill is due in large part to the uniquely American patent system.” —Adam Mossoff, professor of law, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University

“In this insightful and thought-provoking work, Edwards… connects innovation to the divine spark instilled by our Creator, assert­ing that ownership of creation is a natural extension of dominion… He also addresses con­temporary challenges to the U.S. intellectual property system, offering a compelling call to safeguard the innovation ecosystem.” —Laura A. Peter, former deputy undersecretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and deputy director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office

“Jim’s new book, To Invent Is Divine, highlights the divine inspiration behind invention and creativity, a truth well-known in the intellec­tual property community. The ancient Hermetics believed that the pursuit of knowledge was the pursuit of the divine, and Jim’s book clearly illustrates this. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in intellectual property and its foundational principles.” —Brad Watts, former Republican chief counsel, Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Intellectual Property

“With a tour de force through the history of invention and intellectual property protections, Jim Edwards draws a fascinating connection between Scripture and creativity. In the end, the creations of our mind and the fruits of our labor are uniquely human and belong naturally to, and should be owned by, the humans who create them… Using inspiring examples of some of the most prolific inventors in American history, Edwards demonstrates that rights naturally belong to the inven­tors and the State’s obligation is to protect them through the rule of law.” —Hon. Andrei Iancu, former Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office

“Jim Edwards is a champion of inventors’ rights. He’s written a brilliant explanation of the biblical basis for rewarding inventions. To Invent Is Divine is a fascinating analysis of how important and spiritual our Founders’ protection of patent rights is, and why we need to return to that system.” —Andy Schlafly, counsel, Phyllis Schlafly Eagles and Eagle Forum Education and Legal Defense Fund

Author Biography

James R. Edwards, Jr., Ph.D., founder and CEO of ELITE Strategic Services, L.L.C., consults on intellectual property, antitrust, and health policy. He plays leadership, strategic, and advisory roles on IP, particularly patents. Edwards was selected as a 1998 Lincoln Fellow of the Claremont Institute and was awarded an Eagle Award in 2017 by Eagle Forum Education & Legal Defense Fund. Edwards is a South Carolina native.