Mine! How the Hidden Rules of Ownership Control Our Lives
Details
‘Mine’ is one of the first words babies learn, and by the time we grow up, the idea of ownership seems natural and obvious, whether we are buying a cup of coffee or a house. But what actually makes something yours or mine, and why do we believe it? If a drone flies into your backyard, do you own the airspace above—and have the right to shoot it down? When tech companies train AI models on the work of authors and artists without permission, is that innovation or theft? From indigenous land claims to disputes over genetic data, TikTok dance routines, or even a name like Kylie, our modern world is full of conflicts over who gets to claim what. These aren’t just legal squabbles—they're clashes between different stories we tell about who gets to own what. And behind those stories lie deeper questions about power, fairness, and who gets to decide the rules. Let’s meet up to explore these ideas.
Book: Mine! How the Hidden Rules of Ownership Control Our Lives (2021) by Michael Heller and James Salzman
In Mine!, legal scholar Michael Heller and environmental law expert James Salzman reveal the surprisingly flexible and contested nature of ownership. Far from being fixed or natural, ownership is a social construct built on just six basic stories—like “first come, first served” or “possession is nine-tenths of the law”—that shape how people, companies, and governments claim and defend what they think is theirs. Whether it's your neighbour’s tree hanging over your fence, passengers battling over seat recline versus leg room space, or Big Tech tracking your clicks, all these stories quietly shape the world around us.
By unpacking the hidden rules of ownership, Heller and Salzman help us see how ownership is not a predetermined fact but a socially constructed choice that opens up possibilities for reimagining ownership structures to better serve societal goals.
As usual, you’re strongly encouraged to read the book. Unfortunately, if you are not an eBook or audiobook person, this book may be harder to get. So order early from your favorite store or library if you want a paper copy. The authors themselves have also done some excellent short videos on each chapter and are linked below. Additional resources including a presentation and podcasts are also available that you may wish to explore.
So, join us for a drink (and optional meal) at 6.30pm Monday, 1st September on the 2nd floor (i.e. up two flights of stairs) at the Keg & Brew Hotel, Surrey Hills. The Keg & Brew is close to Central Station and the Light Rail.
We hope to see you there!
p.s. Please adjust your RSVP if you have indicated that you will come but are no longer able to do so. This is courteous to people if there is a waitlist.
p.p.s. Please adjust your email notifications settings (particularly the ‘Event updates from organizers’ in the Big Ideas Book Club settings). This is useful for giving any final details or late changes to the event.
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These are just optional links to consider, particularly if you have trouble accessing the book. Feel free to pass on other useful links in the discussion section.
Audio-visual
- An excellent collection of 2–3-minute videos on the key idea of each chapter, by the authors themselves:
Mine! – Official Book Site Short Videos
- Presentation and interviews with Heller and Salzman:
Google Talks – Presentation and Interview (1hr)
Beyond Law Podcast (also on Spotify, Apple) (40mins)
Commonwealth Club Interview (1hr)
- The Next Big Idea Club - 5 Key Ideas and Podcast:
Next Big Idea Club - 5 Key Ideas (audio and written)
Next Big Idea Club - Podcast
- Can you claim and sustain a prime picnic spot with a pair of thongs? Watch the classic scene from The Moodys on iView, Season 2, Episode 1, 7 minutes in:
The Moodys – S2E1 – Australia Day
Written
- A couple of summaries of the book:
SoBrief – Mine Book Summary
Wise Words – Mine Book Summary
- How much of your stuff belongs to Big Tech?:
Big Tech Engineering of Ownership
- An academic article looking at how the property rules articulated in Mine! have historically been used and misused to justify the mass dispossession of Indigenous lands:
Mine! How the Hidden Rules of Ownership Control Our Lives