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You're joking, right?
"Intellectual property is a dangerous idea that is anti-American". That might be the most ass-backwards thing I've ever read on TalkBack. IP is a defining concept of capitalism. Contrary to your opinion that it locks up ideas - it is essential for our capitalist economy to function. In any structured system, ownership of property is actually motivation to creativity. Without it, what is the incentive for someone to create new and better things?

An easy example -
Let's say Ford Motor Company spent $1 billion to come up with a new engine that got 200hp and got 100 mpg. However, since they had no ownership of the patent, everyone else could build the same engine without paying a dime for the research. While Ford has to charge extra for it's cars to help pay for the research, the other guys can sell it cheap because the stole the idea. How does that motivate them to do the research?

Although it's better for society to share the concept, research, development, and testing of new products is VERY expensive. The person who funds all of that wouldn't spend the money if they didn't think it was going to pay them back. That's the American way.

So contrary to the idea that patents lock up ideas - the fact is that patents actually just make sure that the person that came up with the idea gets credit for it.
Posted by: FatherJ   Posted on: 05/29/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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What about HD-DVD?  Grayson Peddie | 05/25/07
since a patent application requires a working sample, we a assuming that  wessonjoe | 05/25/07
A working model...  GrizzledGeezer | 05/28/07
Target's patent was granted in Mardh 2006  WiredGuy | 05/28/07
Please.... Get the Tech right.....  nottheusual1 | 06/01/07
A Physical Working Model is Not Usually Required by the US Patent Office  Aquila_z | 05/28/07
Re: " a patent application requires a working sample"  ruffchaz | 05/29/07
Patent's So Generic, Like Saying Cats and Dogs are Both Animals! duh! happy  i2fun@... | 05/25/07
sick of the patent trolls  yurl2007 | 05/28/07
Totally agree  jasonshortphd | 05/28/07
Trolls vs. Pirates  Aquila_z | 05/28/07
Sorry but you're way off base on this rant  maldain | 05/29/07
I've copyrighted that statement!  Old Timer 8080 | 05/28/07
Blu-ray = a newer BETA video cassette  DarkShadowMaster | 05/26/07
VHS Disc?  Travasaurus | 05/28/07
VHS Disc  The_Quietman | 05/28/07
Price was the issue  kyron.gustafson@... | 06/01/07
Bluray = Broad industry support  bommai | 05/28/07
What makes DarkShadow think that?  1stcyberian | 05/28/07
Industry support doesn't matter  straybeat_z | 05/28/07
You forget the one largest industry  Species8472 | 05/28/07
The adult film industry isn't as much of an issue this time around...  voicebox5 | 05/29/07
It's too funny  straybeat_z | 05/29/07
Does not matter  wizardb@... | 06/18/07
Blu-Ray not long in the tooth  mdfischer | 05/28/07
Only one difference though  straybeat_z | 05/28/07
no actually nothing like BETA  bdmarsh | 05/28/07
Um, Sony DOES allow other manufacturers of Blu-Ray  voicebox5 | 05/29/07
Sony sued over Blu-ray  kevanf1 | 05/28/07
Not enough info to really judge...  rx7racer | 05/28/07
Not necessarily  Dr. John | 05/28/07
i have no pity for Sony  SO.CAL Guy | 05/28/07
patents cost upwards of $25,000  bcroner | 05/28/07
Capitalist scum?  1stcyberian | 05/28/07
And you are anti-human?  JohnBoyTheGreat | 05/28/07
It could be worse than that.....  WiredGuy | 05/28/07
You're joking, right?  FatherJ | 05/29/07
motiviational reflectivation  CrowdedCranium | 06/01/07
Aw, come on! He has a point--that is if patents DO cost this much  labarker | 05/28/07
Noble...?  leegee | 05/28/07
You are correct Sir  straybeat_z | 05/28/07
Holo Decks!  FiOS-Dave | 05/28/07
Holodecks?  leegee | 05/28/07
Holo-Decks  FiOS-Dave | 08/06/07
There is so much wrong with patent Law today...  Old Timer 8080 | 05/28/07
Remeber GIF  Marcwolf1960 | 05/28/07
So THAT'S what happened to GIF?!?  Jeff Hayes | 05/28/07
The GIF patent was "LZ" compression.  ProfessorJim | 05/28/07
how quaint  shraven | 06/01/07
Re:member GIF  PScooter63 | 05/28/07
The Beta / Blu-Ray mistakes are nearly identical  Klaatu51 | 05/28/07
There seems to be a bit of a difference here...  voicebox5 | 05/29/07
Don't let reality get in your way..  done@... | 05/29/07
Yeah I remember GIf's  robertcd@... | 05/28/07
Creating art vs creating recordings...  ProfessorJim | 05/29/07
There are vultures...  NoSchmo | 05/29/07
JVC VHS vs Beta Max  arobart | 05/31/07
That's why we have PNG  rattlesnake0407 | 05/31/07
Not entirely  Bill Timmins | 06/04/07

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