> -----Original Message-----
> From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu] On
Behalf
> Of Carey Fisher - NCS
> Sent: Monday, February 13, 2006 1:49 PM
> To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public.
> Subject: Re: [OT]: Domain names for evil patents
> 
> Danny Sauer wrote:
> > Patents make some sense when a developer
> > is ramping up production or something like that, but really, since
> > when was it any government's job to enforce ethics?
> 
> Well, one of the major purposes of government is to protect private
> property from theft etc.  Protecting IP (Intellectual Property) to me
> falls under this category (notwithstanding that government does
nothing
> well).
> 
> So I think the discussion boils down to whether one believes that
> individuals should "own" Intellectual Property (versus hard assets).
> 
> If you don't believe it, you're probably a "socialist", if you do,
> you're probably a "capitalist".


Well no, that is a "conservative's" view of it all.  Much too
simplified.  "Liberals" likewise often end up with shorthand that is
likewise too simplified.  

There is no pure socialism or pure capitalism anywhere.  Socialism
unlike communism believes in private property and ownership, but puts
more onus on the government rather than corporate ownership.  Capitalism
is based on money being the most important thing.  If you have money you
have control.  Very elitist.  Socialism is based on people being more
important than money.  People should have control.  Socialism is more
democratic than capitalism for that reason.

Unfettered capitalism degrades into fascism where corporate power merges
with government power.  Socialism usually degrades when the power
becomes concentrated again and democracy is killed.

Government btw does many things very well.  Until personal profit or
power becomes more important or ideology (right or left) drives
decisions instead of rational thought.  Government run medical programs
for example are better and more cost efficient than for profit programs.
Ideology likes to drives thoughts on medicare but medicare has always
been better than private insurance at delivering for the patients.

And IP isn't a part of this.  Patents and copyright are good until they
interfere with the public good - and medical patents are one case.
Often public (government) funds help develop medicines through research
at public facilities and grants but then become the property of
producers instead of the property of the people (government) that paid
for the development.

But I don't want to devolve into duplicating effort on the problems with
medical patents.






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