Re: Red Hat on patent FUD

[Ezekiel]

On Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:29:38 +0000, Alan Mackenzie it was written:

> In gnu.misc.discuss amicus_curious <ACDC@sti.net> wrote:
>> 
>> "ml2mst" <ml2mstREMOVE@CAPSgmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:gq2fsa$apa$1@news.albasani.net...
> 
>> You are wrong.  Patents are simply a means to protect the ideas of
>> innovators from wanton copycatting by others.
> 
> Sorry, but you are wrong here.  There's no protection involved, because
> the ideas aren't in any danger.  The ideas are enhanced rather than
> damaged if they are copied by others.
> 
> No, patents are a means of _restricting_ the use of the ideas of
> innovators.
> 
>> Those who can think of new things to do need to be rewarded or else we
>> will be faced with a steep decline in technological progress.
> 
> Well, that's a very vague and very woolly.  Traditionally, especially in
> the USA, people who've thought of new things set up companies and get
> rich by making those things and selling them to eager customers.  "need
> to be rewarded" suggests more the idea of a large government fund paying
> out taxpayers' money to privileged people.

The problem with no patents is that existing companies with existing 
factories, existing employees and existing sales and distribution 
channels would simply "take" any new innovation and bury any new company. 
Patent protection is the only thing that stops existing companies from 
stealing ideas and maintains a level playing field.