Re: Richard Stallman is responsible for the shrinking economy

On Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:39:38 -0400, Walter Banks
<walter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Jon Kirwan wrote:

This is the underlying argument for patents. It is a good idea,
IP is the exclusive use of the creator for a time than falls into the
public domain. It rewards innovation but doesn't allow it to be a
monopoly. It also allows the owner / creator the options including
releasing it to the public domain but preventing others from
controlling its use..

Sadly, and patent attorneys I've spoken with appear to confirm this,
the existing system in the US no longer serves small players.

Patents are only one approach. Copyright law can serve the
interests of small players very well. Basic protection costs nothing
and registered copyrights are inexpensive. Copyrights are currently the
most powerful protection for for software and unlike patents last for
a lifetime plus.

I don't find that to be true in the areas I work, Walter. But I don't
sell software. My area is in instrumentation. For example, I only
this last week came up with something that depends on a unique
discovery investigating some mathematical surfaces related to the
sensor physics of my expertise. It is new. I know this, because I
know the field like only two or three others do. But the methods to
apply this (take advantage of this unique knowledge) are entirely in
the software domain, the hardware is essentially bog standard stuff.
Useful protection will not arrive by copyright, it needs to be a
patent. However, in the current circumstances the only way that will
be meaningful is if I find a large company to work with where they
have the muscle.

Jon
.

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