Quote:
Originally Posted by odedta
Off-topic @HarryT:
Intellectual property laws discourages innovation, if everybody would go: "Oh you can't use this idea, it's mine and is protected by copyright laws" innovation would be minimized to nothing.
If you wrote a novel, or brought out a great idea in your book / article, wouldn't you like to see it used in different fields and inspire innovation? If you had protected it by copyright laws that would most likely not happen!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property#Criticisms |
I have read Jefferson's original comments on copyright and its costs and benefits, and if my memory rightly he stressed that while copyright is beneficial in protecting the interests of those who bring out new creations it is damaging to the community if it is too long and too restrictive. Getting the balance right is the hard part.