Re: Fear of Life (was Microsoft, Automation)

Dan Fabulich (daniel.fabulich@yale.edu)
Fri, 01 May 1998 21:04:04 -0400


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ChuckKuecker wrote:
>As long as it takes large amounts of capital to develop a patent or
>copyrighted work, we will need this protection, as unscrupulous persons are
>then free to let you do the designing and then sell your idea without giving
>you any value.

Rules, not tools, eh?

Since it is the DEVELOPMENT of an idea, not its distribution, which is
costly, why not charge money for its development? In other words, couldn't
you develop your idea at full cost and then, since you've got the only one,
sell it (using encryption and various other privacy tools) to the highest
bidder? Wouldn't that recompense you the cost of your idea? And wouldn't
that prevent people from "stealing" it, without creating a government
enforced monopoly?

The current patent strategy is comparable to leaving your front door open
and unlocked and putting out a big sign on your front lawn saying "No
trespassers. Violators will be prosecuted." This strategy is more like
putting a LOCK on your door and putting a big sign on your lawn saying
"Just you TRY to get in. Prosecutors will be violated." :)

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