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- Path: sparky!uunet!cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!zeus.ieee.org!fsbbs!f620.n2605.z1.ieee.org!eric.larson
- From: eric.larson@f620.n2605.z1.ieee.org (eric larson)
- Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
- Subject: Why the Piracy? Here's why...
- Message-ID: <21633.2B6293D4@zeus.ieee.org>
- Date: 24 Jan 93 03:04:06 GMT
- Sender: news
- Organization: FidoNet node 1:2605/620 - Shockwave Rid, Freehold NJ
- Lines: 27
-
-
- # I believe you missed something. If it weren't for trade secrets,
- # patents, and copyrights, writing software would be trivial; if I needed
- # a fast algorithm for blitting on a Mac, for example, I'd just look it
- # up.
-
- If it weren't for patents and copyrights, all you would have is trade secrets.
- You don't look up trade secrets. Patents are all on file at the Patent Office,
- and Copyrights are on file at the Library of Congress.
-
- # It is the very fact that we `protect' such information that causes it
- # to become so valuable
-
- All information is valuable. There are two ways that have evolved to protect
- it. 1). Keep It Secret. 2). Get the government to give you a license to it.
-
- The patent and copyright system evolved as a contract between the inventor/
- author and the government. The inventor gives up secrecy in exchange for a
- license.
-
- # everyone has to invest the time to reinvent it.
-
- You DON'T have to reinvent it if it has been published.
-
- --
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- eric larson - Internet: eric.larson@f620.n2605.z1.ieee.org
-