[Leaplist] FYI, evidence of realities of IP

[Damien McKenna]

On 1/17/07 12:52 PM, Steve Litt wrote:
> On Wednesday 17 January 2007 11:59, Damien McKenna wrote:
>> Just food for thought.
> 
> On the other side, if I spend 4 months writing a book, shouldn't I be granted
> a monopoly to sell it for at least a few years?

Yes, and likewise developers/companies who produce code should be allowed to
use the current legal system to protect their IP.  And therefore anyone who
wishes to use this IP should be free to license it.  And that's where Novell
came in.

> I'm not so sure patents and copyrights are a bad thing, but I'm very sure they
> last waaaay too long. I think a copyright should automatically become public
> domain in 10 to 15 years.

Agreed.  Try convincing artists, companies or associations (e.g. the RIAA,
MPAA) of that though.

> Patents maybe 8 -- 5 for drug patents.

Nah, two years should be enough for them, they're already raking it in :-P

> I once read a half tongue and cheek article about what would happen if
> basketball players patented their moves.

Imagine if Michael Jackson could sue anyone who ever did a moonwalk!

-- 
Damien McKenna - Web Developer - damien.mckenna at thelimucompany.com
The Limu Company - http://www.thelimucompany.com/ - 407-804-1014
#include <stdjoke.h>