> On Tue, 19 May 1998, Michael Lorrey wrote:
>
> > The scientific method followed later as a method of scientific discovery and
> > experimentation merely to make a more efficient system for research than the
> > existing hit and miss system of guesswork.
> >
> > I htink that it would be safe to say that we owe both the concept of
> > intellectual property and the scientific method to one invention that
> > preceded them: gunpowder.
>
> This is interesting stuff. Where can I read more about this?
about any history of the renaissance and military technology would be a good place
to start.
> In answer to your question as to why anyone would invent if they did not
> get paid for it, I repeat my argument that inventors WOULD get paid:
> once, at the time of invention. It would be worth paying them because the
> invention would create a new market (or more demand, in the case of an
> incremental change to an existing product). The fact that others would
> compete in this market does NOT make the invention valueless to the
> supplier; it just means that the firm will only reap its percentage of the
> market share, rather than the whole of the market (minus deadweight loss
> from monopoization).
But they wouldn't be getting paid fairly for it. This is about as logical as a
manufacturer only getting paid for some of the product he makes, i.e. not somthing
which should be legislated or forced on someone. Product for which a manufacturer
is not paid, and which he does not willingly donate to charity or give away is
STOLEN. GET IT?
Also, you are still ignoring my question as to why I or anyone should invent
something to benefit others without our say so as to who can benefit freely from it
and who pays. Anything less is theft.
All you are doing is akin to an attempt to legislate PI to equal 3. Get off your
subjectivist, post modern butt and pay for what you use. No free lunches.
-- TANSTAAFL!!! Michael Lorrey ------------------------------------------------------------ mailto:retroman@together.net Inventor of the Lorrey Drive MikeySoft: Graphic Design/Animation/Publishing/Engineering ------------------------------------------------------------ How many fnords did you see before breakfast today?