University of Economics in Katowice

While the dominant justification for intellectual property rights seems to remain consequentialist, various deontological theories are also proposed. They often appeal, directly or indirectly, to intellectual labor as a source of rights or as a circumstance that is relevant to justifying intellectual property on moral grounds. Recently, another such theory has been proposed by Bryan Cwik, gaining substantial recognition. It holds that, in the absence of intellectual property regulation, innovators and artists are at a disadvantage as compared to manual laborers. This is because they cannot control how the fruits of their intellectual labor are used. Patents, copyrights and other similar regimes are portrayed as necessary to secure their control over the exercise of their productive capacities. In the present paper Cwik’s theory is evaluated and exposed as indeterminate. Its metaphysical presuppositions are also criticized. When they are replaced by a more coherent ontology, a reinterpretation of control relations follows. Cwik’s objective of maximizing individuals’ control over their own productive capacities is achieved by intellectual property abolition, rather than enforcement. His theory fails to support intellectual monopoly.

PurposeThe aim of the article is to analyze the potential applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in the tourism sector and to develop a strategic model for AI integration in this industry, called SmartTour. The article focuses on understanding and illustrating specific areas of AI application in tourism while addressing the existing research gap in this field. Additionally, the article presents practical recommendations for managers and decision-makers in the tourism sector, aimed at maximizing the potential of AI to enhance the competitiveness and innovativeness of tourism enterprises.Design/methodology/approachTo develop the SmartTour model, cross-validation and methodological triangulation. The study was based on case analyses of enterprises already utilizing AI, expert interviews and quantitative data analysis, which allowed for a comprehensive understanding of the researched phenomenon. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with managers of tourism enterprises and customers. Qualitative data were analyzed using NVivo software, while quantitative data were collected from a sample of 200 respondents. The surveys included both closed and open-ended questions, and the data were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS software. The research sample was purposively selected.FindingsThe study revealed that the Polish tourism sector utilizes AI for process automation, offer personalization and data analysis, enhancing efficiency and competitiveness. The developed SmartTour model integrates AI technologies, such as machine learning, to optimize services and customer experiences. Despite challenges like financial constraints and data security concerns, most companies plan further investments in AI.Originality/valueThe article presents a new perspective on the application of AI in tourism management and proposes a specific model, SmartTour, which has not yet been empirically studied in the context of tourism. It also offers an analysis of the impact of AI on customer satisfaction, contributing to the existing literature that predominantly focuses on theoretical concepts. The research findings provide practical insights for managers, affirming the relevance and originality of the study. While AI in tourism is a growing area of research, the article's focus on developing a comprehensive business model tailored to tourism enterprises is both original and significant.

Purpose: This article aims to analyse the legal barriers preventing the full digitisation of general meetings (GMs) of shareholders in Poland, on the assumption that virtual-only GMs are the next logical step in the digital transformation of corporate governance. Design/methodology/approach: This article discusses the importance of technological development for the digitisation of corporate governance, presenting the legal framework applicable in Poland to online GMs. These are presented as mechanisms of contemporary digital corporate governance, with the necessary legislative changes indicated. The article emphasises that the digitisation of corporate processes must take into account the legal security of the company and its stakeholders. The analysis is based on company law standards, literature on the subject, and source texts. Content analysis and legal text analysis methods were employed. Findings: Despite the formal possibility of remote participation in GMs, the study showed that Polish company law still does not allow for virtual-only GMs in joint-stock companies. Key restrictions include the requirement for a physical meeting place, electronic participation by shareholders being optional rather than mandatory, and the obligation to draw up notarial minutes. It was suggested that the German regulatory model could inform the reform of Polish law, given that it permits the total exclusion of shareholders' physical presence and comprehensively regulates the protection of their corporate rights in a virtual environment. Furthermore, it was emphasised that digitising GMs strengthens corporate governance mechanisms based on transparency, accountability, responsibility, fairness, and stakeholder participation. Originality/value: The article addresses key issues concerning the functioning of a joint-stock company in the modern era. It identifies the main barriers to the digitisation of GMs in Poland and proposes solutions based on the German model. It also highlights areas where digitisation can reinforce the practical implementation of corporate governance principles.

The main objective of this article is to examine how organisational resilience is defined and its implications for logistics industry entities. For the purpose of a systematic literature review (SLR), bibliometric analysis and content analysis were used. The analysis reveals no unified definition of resilience in the logistics industry, though a common pattern defines it as an entity’s ability to achieve a desired outcome under disruptive conditions. The findings indicate that major disruptions, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic, are the primary reasons for the heightened research interest in this topic. The analysis carried out allows for further methodological work on systematising the concept of resilience in logistics activities (logistics industry), which is important in the context of maintaining the continuity of logistics processes, both from the point of view of supply chains and from the point of view of individual links. This is important from a cost perspective (analysis of the total cost of goods flow) as well as for building customer satisfaction.

Crowdfunding has become a global phenomenon and a significant source for funding entrepreneurial ventures. For the emerging markets in particular, crowdfunding has emerged as an alternative significant financing tool given the restricted access to financial resources. At the same time, during the last decade digital technology has drastically changed the global economy especially for the emerging markets. The aim of the paper is to investigate if and how the adoption of digital technologies in infrastructure, usage and empowerment in the emerging markets enhances crowdfunding target achievement and crowdfunding success. Further, we explore how the presence of strong sociocultural (informal), economic and political institutions (formal) in the emerging markets is related with the adoption of digital technologies and, their direct impact on crowdfunding initiatives. Using a sample of 44 emerging economies over the period 2009-2023, our results indicate that the adoption of digital technologies support crowdfunding target achievement and success rate in emerging markets. Further, formal and informal institutions support crowdfunding investments, moderating at the same time the relationship between digital technology and crowdfunding target achievement and success. Our results bridge the gap in empirical research on crowdfunding adoption, shedding light on the role and importance of sociocultural, political and economic institutions in the emerging markets.