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Scientific theories can't be patented, but...
... commercially viable ideas can.

And so, because money could be made, we have airplanes and cars, and all the other inventions advanced by people looking for a profit.

I think you pushed your contention a bit too far. You ended up in Stallman country, where software profits, jobs, and salaries are morally questionable.

Restraining your point a bit, though, you're right.
Some software development does have to be pure research, without an immediately apparent practical application. Somebody other than the discoverer can find a way of making money off the discovery and pay the university or other research facility where the theoretical work is done.
That type of work should be open sourced. And pure research projects do create jobs.
Posted by: Anton Philidor   Posted on: 05/20/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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See....  ickusslime@... | 05/19/04
Interesting article...  FederalistPaperBoy | 05/19/04
Save on salaries; sell the work  Anton Philidor | 05/19/04
Sounds about right  Spam-ZD | 05/20/04
Where did I say Microsoft?  Anton Philidor | 05/20/04
Re: Spam-ZD  samp_z | 05/20/04
Reasonable?  SC-man | 05/20/04
ehm  NemesisNL | 05/20/04
As I read it...  Anton Philidor | 05/20/04
Then we'll see how willing the proprietors are to sacrifice revenues  NemesisNL | 05/20/04
Agreeing to differ  Anton Philidor | 05/20/04
if you opt for the "free" license...  ryusen | 05/20/04
A company would pay not to put in...  Anton Philidor | 05/20/04
and that is their choice...  ryusen | 05/21/04
So free software really doesn't give you freedom...  P. Douglas | 05/20/04
Take away value?  IT_User | 05/20/04
Yes, Take Away Value  P. Douglas | 05/20/04
Services  voska | 05/20/04
Beware of the FSF Conspirators  P. Douglas | 05/20/04
reL Tv industry...  ryusen | 05/20/04
You don't need to misrepresent my statements  IT_User | 05/20/04
Talking past each other  Anton Philidor | 05/20/04
Interesting note on definition  IT_User | 05/20/04
Yes, Take Away Value - 2  P. Douglas | 05/20/04
New markets will apear  voska | 05/20/04
Your product is the game, not the software  Anton Philidor | 05/20/04
re: harmful for business...  ryusen | 05/20/04
GM wouldn't be harmed...  Anton Philidor | 05/20/04
re: your complaint  ryusen | 05/21/04
Take away value?  IT_User | 05/20/04
re: freedom...  ryusen | 05/20/04
Do companies 'exploit' their customers?  IT_User | 05/20/04
That's the problem:  Anton Philidor | 05/20/04
ssuming that the labor would have been done by paid staff  NemesisNL | 05/20/04
Scientific theories can't be patented, but...  Anton Philidor | 05/20/04
Interesting points  IT_User | 05/20/04
depends on your need...  ryusen | 05/20/04
And some people *STILL* don't get it.  Eggs Ackley_z | 05/20/04
The article answers your question.  Anton Philidor | 05/20/04
like lemmings marching to the cliff  NemesisNL | 05/20/04
Doesn't do much for income...  Anton Philidor | 05/20/04
Ever hear of consultant fees?  Michael Kelly | 05/20/04
Consultant fees?  samp_z | 05/20/04
Start you own business based on services  voska | 05/20/04
free work?  samp_z | 05/20/04
No I have work just none that you are paying for (NT)  NemesisNL | 05/20/04
alltruism vs. pragmatism...  ryusen | 05/20/04
Contributing  SC-man | 05/20/04
screw generosity...  ryusen | 05/20/04
THIS is what free software is all about!  George Mitchell | 05/20/04
Free Software  samp_z | 05/20/04
Free software is NOT the cause of lower salaries,  George Mitchell | 05/20/04
Who are these people?  IT_User | 05/20/04

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