I mondi di Galileo – The ‘Secret’ of Galileo’s Telescope. Astronomy and Intellectual Property

Modern scientists have become increasingly aggressive in protecting their intellectual property by patenting their discoveries and, sometimes, by keeping them secret. In many ways, Galileo anticipated this trend. Earlier in his career, Galileo was an inventor who patented his work and, quite naturally, he transferred the same concerns with intellectual property to the telescope and to the astronomical discoveries that turned him into a “star” in 1610. Fearing to see his discoveries claimed by other astronomers, he rushed to publication while giving out very little information about how to build the telescope. Much of the early opposition to his telescopic discoveries was not the result of philosophical opposition but of his own secrecy.

Mario Biagioli is Professor of History of Science at Harvard University. He is author of many studies on intellectual property.

Kim Stanley Robinson is an American science fiction writer known for his award-winning Mars trilogy. He is author of a Galileo’s biography to be published.

24 September
6pm
Free entrance while seats last
Conference in Italian

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