This document discusses the history of intellectual property issues within the field of rhetoric and composition dating back to the 1960s. It addresses how scholars have long been attentive to legal and economic factors that impact their work and classrooms. Key topics that have been discussed include notions of authorship, the impact of changing technologies, and concerns about how restrictive copyright laws and corporate interests could negatively influence teaching and scholarship. The document also examines calls to reimagine writing and authorship in a way that values collaboration over individual ownership and promotes the growth of a shared cultural commons.