Re: Some interesting economic facts

[Brett Glass <brett@lariat.org>]

At 02:10 AM 4/22/98 -0400, Mark Hinds wrote:
 
>The locking up of knowledge is simply an artificial creation. Take it
>away
>and just like the Y2K problem, life will go on. The only reason to
>continue
>these intellectual property laws is to promote the wealth concentrating
>efforts
>of those who can afford to own intellectual property. The vast majority
>of
>people derive no benefit. As to motivation, money does not promote the
>best,
>only the greediest. If there is a need then a means to satisfy this need
>will develop.

Sorry, but the above contains loaded words and inflammatory rhetoric
and is utterly unsubstantiated by fact. In fact, it is contradicted by what
you say below (though I have no idea if your tale is accurate or not).

>BTW, my understanding is that the concept of patent originated in
>England
>(a Monty Python sketch? :-). A certain canon maker had developed a
>formula
>for steel(?) which allowed canons to be made significantly lighter so
>your
>ships could carry more and artillery could go faster. The fellow who
>knew
>the formula died without leaving it behind and so it was back to
>the heavier canons. As a result the concept of patent was created as a
>means
>of getting critically useful information divulged, not as a nice thing
>to do for clever people. The exclusive rights protection was the the 
>necessary inducement.
>
>So I've heard anyway. Correct me if I'm mistaken.

It is true that patents and copyrights provide exclusivity for a limited time
both as an incentive to create and as a way of eventually bringing the
invention or artistic work into the public domain.

--Brett Glass