Re: Why DRM exists [was Re: Flame Linus to a crisp!]

Scott Robert Ladd
2003-04-29T16:28:04Z

Timothy Miller wrote:
> I believe that it's very important that an author have rights to
> profit exclusively from their creations. It gives them incentive to
> create. I mean, if every time you developed some cool new
> technology, some foreign company took it, made huge profits from it,
> and left you with out a dime for all of your effort, wouldn't that
> put a huge kink in your desire to expend that sort of effort?
>
> On the other hand, I don't believe people should rest on their
> laurels. Limited rights is an incentive to get off one's behind and
> create another thing.
>
> I think patent periods should be very strongly enforced and SHORT.
> Like most of these patents that we think of as frivolous should be
> allowed, but the time limit should be at most a year or two. Many of
> these 'defensive' patents that companies like Amazon have are
> actually good things because they ensure that these ideas go into the
> public domain. If some patent is deemed particularly clever, then the
> limit should be more like five years.
>
> I have mixed feelings on defensive patents. "Since I know that
> you're going to patent what I'm already doing and then sue me over
> it, I'm going to beat you to the punch and patent it to protect
> myself." It makes sense in a very sad sort of way.

I just want to "second" your excellent thoughts. Well said.

..Scott

--
Scott Robert Ladd
Coyote Gulch Productions (http://www.coyotegulch.com)