Talent Wants to Be Free: Why We Should Learn to Love Leaks, Raids, and Free Riding
"Lobel does an expert job at guiding us through the complex world of  restrictive strategies and proves why new approaches to information  exchange and protection are imperative if we want to live in a world  that fosters innovation and progress."—Dan Ariely, author of Predictably Irrationaland The Honest Truth About Dishonesty"By combining rigorous academic work and charming storytelling, Orly   Lobel has written a book that is interesting and valuable for anyone   interested in understanding innovation as well as becoming more   innovative."—Tal Ben-Shahar, author of Choose the Life You WantandHappier"Orly Lobel’s powerful message—set human talent free—will change the way   entrepreneurs and policymakers think about creative advancements.Talent Wants to Be Freeis a how-to guide for economic growth in the twenty-first century."—Jason Mazzone, author ofCopyfraud and Other Abuses of Intellectual Property Law"Professor Lobel’s father wisely advised her, “If you want something,   give it away.” Now, she has given all of us a profound gift: a   provocative and compelling argument that we should abandon our obsession   with controlling ideas and expertise. She draws on research in  decision  science, behavioral economics, psychology, law, philosophy,  and game  theory—including much of her own original research —to show  the benefits  of making talent free.Talent Wants to Be Freeis  filled with  fascinating ideas about how people and skills become  depleted when they  are monopolized, and is a must read for anyone  interested in the ongoing  debate about technology, human capital, and  innovation."—Frank Partnoy,  author ofWaitandThe Match King“What promotes innovation and fairness—intellectual property rights and   restrictions on employees moving from one company to another—or free   flow of information and people?  Especially as technology rewrites rules   and expectations, anyone interested in promoting innovation should  read   Orly Lobel’s powerful analysis that combines lessons from  practice,  insights from law, and provocative ideas from across the  globe.”  -  Martha Minow, Dean of Harvard Law School and author of Partners, Not Rivals and Not Only for Myself"In this fascinating and accessible book, Orly Lobel argues persuasively   that firms innovate best not by controlling human capital, but by   setting their most creative employees free -- even if this means losing   them." - Christopher Jon Sprigman, Class of 1963 Research Professor,   University of Virginia School of Law, author ofThe Knockoff EconomyandFreakonomicsblog contributor"A compelling argument for a new set of attitudes toward human capital   that will sharpen our competitive edge and fuel the creative sparks in   any environment.” – PUBLISHERS WEEKLY“Don’t Miss. To hold on to their top talent and protect proprietary  information, firms routinely require employees to sign noncompete and  nondisclosure contracts. But that's the road to economic stagnation,  writes Orly Lobel of the University of San Diego in Talent Wants to Be  Free. Evidence suggests that companies will have better luck with  R&D when high turnover allows knowledgeable employees to move freely  within their industries…Lobel calls this being smarter about "human  capital strategies." We say it's the 21st-century way of teaching  business.” – Biz Ed Magazine