Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Jordan
(I had to go back and look, to see how this sub-thread got started.) The problems in Africa are partly Africa's own, and partly (mostly) the fault of the Old and New Worlds... unfortunately, while Africa is struggling to help itself, the Old and New Worlds haven't been doing their part to help.
This isn't a fault of Intellectual Property, or the Free Market system. This is the fault of politicians and the public refusing to help in anything but token amounts.
IP won't help Africa if the rest of the world won't extend a hand, to help them pull themselves up. Governments could easily solve the problem by buying the drugs outright, and sending them over. So could the public (you). IP doesn't prevent that. Publicly-sanctioned disinterest does.
So don't blame IP for Africa's troubles... blame the indifference of the rest of the world.
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It doesn't matter who's fault it is. A strong case could be made that the "free market" and capitalist history is at least partly responsible for it though. A strong case could also be made that Intellectual Property plays a part of keeping the first world far ahead of the third world. (I won't even start about intellectual property on genetically altered seeds which keep farmers in Africa dependent on western suppliers).
And, yes, I blame the indifference. Very much so. But Intellectual Property effectively is the tool that gets wielded by this indifference. Basically you're saying Intellectual Property can be worked around if only we (me and my government) pay. How about this company's indifference? Hiding behind some mantra "sorry, it's intellectual property, that's just how it works, kid.". THAT is indifference. Let's give THIS indifference less tools to work with, by not taking this new invention of intellectual property serious.
It's not that long ago the US didn't take it serious btw. But I guess in those days it was not in it's best own interests to take it serious.
I'll repeat. People are dying right now, because intellectual property getting wielded with indifference.