Quote:
Originally Posted by HansTWN
Sure, the author owes something to society. He/she has to pay taxes on any profit. Just as with any kind of work. That is the trade off for granting that "monopoly".
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Other work isn't granted a monopoly. If a carpenter builds a bookcase they have property rights over one bookcase but any other carpenter can build an identical one and sell it then pay taxes. Taxes on profit are what you pay in exchange for getting the same society as everyone else and for avoiding a prison sentence for tax evasion. A monopoly is something extra what's paid for not only the right over what you have but the ability to stop others from copying and using as they please? TANSTAAFL, what gets paid for the bonus power over the actions of other people?