Data Ownership Redefined: Firms' Exclusive Control Threatens Competition and Innovation
This paper explores how traditional property laws may not be the best fit for governing data. Unlike physical objects like cars, data has unique features that require different rules. Rather than worrying about who owns the data, the big issue is how to access and share it fairly. Companies having too much control over data can harm competition and innovation. By using a "bundle of rights" approach, we can create flexible rules on who can use data in what ways, tailored to different industries. Current digital laws, like GDPR and data portability rules, are all about figuring out the best rights for data to keep things fair in the digital world.