In a message dated 9/7/01 2:51:19 PM, fyzycyst_at_home.com writes:
<< > From this stems the notion of private property and all those rights
> associated with that concept.
>
> If you build a house, boat, or anything else and you choose not to 'use
> it', does that mean that in 5,10,15,20 years someone should be able to come
> along and say,"well, you are not using this so I will". I don't think so,
Private (tangible) property and intellectual property have always been
treated differently, and for good reason. A perpetual monopoly on ideas
brings progress to a halt -- how can I create a new idea by springboarding
off an old one if I'm not allowed to use the old idea??
Remember, PATENTS expire. Why shouldn't copyrights? >>
Intellectual property is just as tangible. Ask Microsoft. They are not going
bonkers over Chinese software piracy for nothing. A perpetual monoploy, as
you call it, is simply protection of property rights to the nth degree. Also,
in discussions to reform the patent process in the US and Europe there is a
groundswell of support to insure that at some point we have a system of
patents which never expire. And rightly so.
-William
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