Final answer:
The policy of strong patent rights and weaker copyrights highlights the difference in economic incentives for inventors, who benefit from the exclusive rights to commercialize their inventions, compared to authors, whose creative works are protected mainly through copyright.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reflecting on the policy of strong patent rights and weaker copyrights, it highlights distinctive motivations between inventors and authors. Inventors, who file for patents, are often motivated by the economic incentive to innovate. This is evident from the uptick in patent applications during the tech boom of the 90s, spurred by the advent of the Internet. Economic studies indicate that inventors gain only a portion of the total value from their inventions, suggesting that strong patent protection is critical for them to recoup their investments.
Conversely, authors, protected by copyright laws, possess exclusive rights over the reproduction of their creative works like books, music, and art. However, when considering the realm of software invention, the demarcation between patent and copyright can be blurry.
The policy differentials between patents and copyrights, therefore, reflect the inventiveness of technological innovators versus the creative expression of authors. While patents offer a limited monopoly, incentivizing research and development, copyrights aim to protect the integrity and originality of artistic works.