On Mon, May 30, 2005 13:43:46 PM -0400, Daniel Carrera
([EMAIL PROTECTED]) wrote:
>
> If you invent a new light bulb or an antigravity engine I should be able
> to use the ideas behind them to make my own bulb and antigravity
> engine.
Absolutely yes, that's why patents have limited duration. Whether its
current value in years is the optimal one is another issue, of course.
> I can accept a copyright-style protection for your actual work.
Stallman teaches us that copyright and patents are deeply different
beasts, so we shouldn't mix them, but, in the interest of a
stimulating and friendly discussion, I'll byte.
When it is a *real* invention the "actual work" is not just the
drawing of a keyboard or, speaking of photographs, the final formula
for a better film. It can take years and an awful lot of money to
invent and make producible real inventions. Said this,
> you take a beautiful photograph of half-dome I understand if you
> don't want me to make copies of it. But I can still go to half-dome
> myself and take my own photograph.
Absolutely yes. That's copyright realm. But inventions and patents are
different. If you come to my home, see my half dome photograph, and
inspired by that go to Yosemite to make much better ones, none of us
can and should pretend anything on the work of the other. I agree
100%.
But if I had finished yesterday, after years of labor, the formula for
the film you used, maybe spending a lot of money, you copied the
formula today and, without even really understanding it, began to sell
tomorrow films at a cheaper price because you have no R&D costs to
recover, I'd be mightily pissed. That's why patents were invented.
> I question the general validity of patents. Suppose you design a
> better keyboard, so that it's much easier to learn. Should you be
> granted a monopoly on making keyboards with that design?
For a *limited* time, definitely yes. See film example above. Material
things are not software. (oh, and before there is confusion, I think
medicines and genes should be treated in a veeeeeeery different
manner).
> We can just agree to disagree on that.
Of course, no problem.
Ciao,
Marco
--
Marco Fioretti mfioretti, at the server mclink.it
Fedora Core 3 for low memory http://www.rule-project.org/
"The SUN TROPIC beauty farm reopens today: featuring exotic swimming
pools, and, under the palm trees, **UVA lamps**"
(unluckily for humankind, a REAL ad that I read in a real magazine)
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