top | item 1361102

(no title)

fnid2 | 16 years ago

You have no idea of what I have an idea. Why do conversations here seem to degrade into "You don't know what you're talking about?" Or as camperbob puts it, "Clearly you've thought a lot about this?"

bit sharing and open source are two topics that are so religious around here. This community has a huge axe to grind against powerful organizations who have profited off intellectual property. Why?

What exactly is so wrong about profiting off intellectual property? Software, music, movies?

discuss

order

hxa7241|16 years ago

> What exactly is so wrong about profiting off intellectual property? Software, music, movies?

Because the current system works by an artificial monopoly. Monopolies harm the public. The compensation that copyright is supposed to provide -- incentivising production -- is not clearly supported by evidence. And the restriction inherent in monopolised distribution is fundamentally opposed to the new benefits that the internet offers -- if we want one, the other must be reduced -- and we want the internet.

The problem is not people profiting from creating, it is that the system has been rigged by current encumbents to rip-off and obstruct the public.