“Delete All IP Law”: Why Jack Dorsey & Elon Musk Want to Abolish Intellectual Property

Jack Dorsey and Elon Musk say they’d “delete all IP law”—but is this Silicon Valley idealism or a self-serving power play? We break it down.

Dorsey & Musk vs. IP Law: Disruptive Vision or Hypocritical Stance?

Over the weekend, Twitter/X co-founder Jack Dorsey dropped a bombshell take:

“Delete all IP law.”

Elon Musk quickly agreed, replying:

“I agree.”

The exchange went viral, reigniting a long-running debate: Should intellectual property (IP) laws exist in tech? Or are they just tools for monopolies and lawsuits?

Here’s what’s really behind their stance—and why it’s more complicated than it seems.

Why Dorsey & Musk Hate IP Laws

1. “Innovation Should Be Free” (The Idealist Argument)

• Both have open-sourced key technologies (Square’s crypto patents, Tesla’s EV tech).
• They argue IP laws stifle progress by letting companies hoard ideas.

2. “Patent Trolls Are Parasites” (The Practical Argument)

• Musk has called patents “lottery tickets for lawsuits.”
• Dorsey’s companies have faced nuisance patent litigation.

3. “Big Tech Weaponizes IP” (The Power Argument)

• Giants like Apple and IBM use patents defensively.
• Musk and Dorsey see this as anti-competitive.

The Hypocrisy Problem

Despite their rhetoric, both benefit from IP protections:

• Tesla still files patents (while Musk claims they’re “open”).
• Block (Square) holds fintech patents.
• X/Twitter’s algorithm is proprietary.

Critics say: This is like billionaires saying “taxes are bad” while using loopholes.

What Would “Deleting IP Law” Actually Do?

Pros:

✅ Faster innovation (no patent thickets blocking progress)
✅ Fewer lawsuits (goodbye, patent trolls)
✅ Cheaper products (no licensing fees)

Cons:

❌ Startups could get steamrolled (big firms copy ideas with no recourse)
❌ Less incentive for R&D (why spend billions if others free-ride?)
❌ Creative industries collapse (musicians, filmmakers rely on copyright)

Who Else Wants IP Reform?

• Richard Stallman (Free Software Foundation): “All software should be free.”
• Aaron Swartz (RIP): Fought for open access to research.
• Patent Abolitionists: Argue the system is irreparably broken.

But even critics admit: Some IP protection is needed—just not the current mess.

The Most Likely Outcome

Full abolition won’t happen, but reform might:
🔹 Shorter patent terms (5 years instead of 20?)
🔹 Stricter patent quality control (reduce trivial patents)
🔹 Compulsory licensing (pay fees but can’t block use)

Final Thought: A Provocation Worth Debating

Dorsey and Musk know IP laws won’t vanish—but their tweetstorm forces a conversation.

Key question: Should tech’s rules be written by those who benefit most from them?

Where do you stand?

• Abolish all IP?
• Reform the system?
• Keep it as-is?