This issue of Reference Shelf will cover the 2024 National Debate topic of expanding protections on intellectual property. Long a cornerstone of the American economy, intellectual property has been a concern for each generation of Americans from the founding era to the Digital Age, but the advent of digital tools and communication and evolving attitudes about public vs. private ownership has thrust the debate back into the forefront, with issues including the cost of generic prescription drugs, ownership of music and art between companies and creative professionals, and the impact of generative artistic AI tools making international headlines. This volume will introduce some of the most pressing topics in this arena, including the potential for new international standards on IP protections, penalties for misuse of intellectual property, and whether the United States is failing American creatives by falling behind other countries in terms of legal guidelines and protections for creators. Debate participants will have ample material to draw on in making their arguments.