Post #1178728

2026-04-06 14:29 UTC

I feel like I realized something profound when I was replying to your message initially. I was going to say something that I still find somewhat reasonable: if you create or develop or invent something useful or revolutionary, surely people shouldn't be allowed to copy it for free? You did all the work But then I realized that's pretty close to poor people voting against taxing m/billionaires more. I'm not a millionaire, and I'm not developing any revolutionary tech either

Replies (2)

@JcbAzPx@lemmy.world 2026-04-06 15:33

The problem patents were solving was an inventor creating something and having it completely taken over by a well funded company leaving said inventor penniless. They created a new problem, though, when the well funded companies realized they could just buy all the patents and force everyone else to pay them while holding those ideas hostage.

Open ##1178729
@nonentity@sh.itjust.works 2026-04-06 23:37

One of the greatest tricks Capitalists ever pulled was convincing creative individuals that copyright exists to serve their interests. My comments stem from broader work I’ve been ruminating on. The current IP regime (copyright, patents, trademark, etc.) incentivise locking ideas up and away as tightly as possible, they aren’t fit for purpose, and should be largely done away with, but the void that would leave needs a replacement that is proven and battle hardened. My current proposition is a mechanism that rewards the spread of knowledge, and its comprehension, as broad and deep as practicable. Creating, discovering, disseminating, and explaining ideas should be rewarded, but not by housing them in conjured gaol cells.

Open ##1178730