Sandip Bhattacharya wrote:
> On Saturday, 5 Nov 2005 1:20 pm, Linux Lingam wrote:
>> for instance, the chinese are known to have invented several things
>> in their civilization, you know the usual: gunpowder, sails, etc.
>> what has been their attitude towards knowledge they discover or
>> inventions they make? what about india, as in ancient india? i
>> wonder what was the attitude
>
> I believe that most of the time in our history, the only means of
> protecting
> knowledge has using trade secrets. This is easily understood by
> laymen,
> doesnt need unfair and easily compromised government regulations, and
> in many
> cases easier to enforce.

You need to execute an apprentice or two once in a while, but yes, this is 
easier to enforce.  And as you point out, much easier to understand.

Excellent way to put it, I plan to steal your line :-)

> When knowledge has spread in spite of the owners wanting to keep it
> secret, it
> has happened due to leaks or reverse engineering.

Leaks, and apprentices moving to new towns and setting up outside guild 
control, usually.

If you keep a tight enough control, you can cut off reverse engineering.

--
Sanjeev 



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