ABSTRACT
The property comes into existence only by being made available for use by others; and a research report hoarded in secret is almost certain to depreciate in value. The conception of a single demonstrated result embodying new knowledge, and belonging as property to its author, came first in mathematics. In spite of these defects, the system of protection of property does at least provide formal rules of authentication and an etiquette of dispute for the assignment of ownership of work up to the point of publication. The development of these new forms of property is probably the main cause of the welcome decline of the bitter ‘priority’ disputes between great scientists which so disfigured the science of earlier periods. The distinguished physicist J. B. Biot, who might be called the world’s first career scientist, was involved in a number of unpleasant disputes over property.
