Re: Patent breakthrough- maybe we don't need them after all?

From: Michael S. Lorrey (mike@datamann.com)
Date: Wed Mar 15 2000 - 15:43:13 MST


Lee Daniel Crocker wrote:

> > The problem is that it is so easy to counterfeit information, while it
> > takes a much greater investment to counterfeit material goods.
> > Especially in an age where integrity, honesty, honor, and loyalty all
> > have lost their meanings, I would prefer the rule of law in such
> > situations rather than giving in to the barbarians. I would be John
> > Galt, rather than to aid others without recompense.
>
> John Galt didn't seek a government-granted monopoly on his engine;
> he locked it in a room and sold the power it generated like a good
> capitalist, no patents needed. Too bad he didn't realize how much
> more fabulously wealthy the gulch would have been (including him)
> if he had also allowed others to build the engines and find new
> applications for them and improve them.

If he had allowed the others (all those people living in their People's
Republics) to build the engines, they would never have paid him for them,
claiming it was his duty to serve society and that satisfaction that so many
people were happy was enough reward for him. Bah.

--
TANSTAAFL!!!

Michael S. Lorrey Member, Extropy Institute http://www.extropy.org Member, National Rifle Association http://www.nra.org "Live Free or Die, Death is not the Worst of Evils." - General John Stark



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