I have read a column, "Intellectual property law should not be applied to music, movies" (SN 2/20), and letter to the editor, "Intellectual property law necessary to make living" (2/22), during the past couple of days in reference to intellectual property rights. I would like to offer some background information regarding the basis of these rights.

Intellectual property rights come from the U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 8, Part 8, which states, "To promote the progress of science and useful arts by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries." I think it is noteworthy that these rights are assigned in the body of the U.S. Constitution and are not amendments.

Clearly, the framers felt very strongly about this issue.

Kris A. Berglund
university distinguished professor of forestry and chemical engineering