[Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
I would argue that good ideas are not superabundant... mediocre ones are unfortunately... ;-)
I understand your opinion. While I don't fully disagree with you, and you may not intend this: one can easily extend your commentary in the last paragraph to justify copying of music material, of software (both solely protected by copyright), and if one does so, the manufacturer (or artist) does not get paid, so why should they continue to produce + innovate? Absolutely, value can be applied to non-hard goods. whether or not one chooses to use eg one's music for marketing purposes (eg for concert sales) vs selling it directly should be up to the one producing it (eg NIN vs Metallica), not the consumer. I can buy a license to use software + I can buy a license to use a patent. What's the difference?
wrt the patents, there are industries that use common production equipment, materials, and techniques and where production lead times are not large (R+D lead times exceed production lead times + the innovation is significantly in the design side). In such industries, often a set of design parameters or topologies within a material system is what distinguishes company A from B (eg pepsi/coke). In an "artistic" case (like pepsi/coke), it might be disadvantageous in the marketplace for one to replicate the other (remember "new coke", not a replication per se, but similar idea). In an "engineering" case where A's parameters yield an objectively superior measureable result, if B steals them with no recourse for A, A is potentially in trouble in the market, particularly if B has other redeeming features in their product. I can assure you, that there are spaces like that, and lead time is of little benefit! IP protection there is critical. In some spaces, it may be less critical, but it should still be available.
I'm not convinced that copycats can't do well in the marketplace. Often copying stuff to start gets the ball rolling + innovation follows... Imho it is not as simple as you would suggest...
James...
posted by 67.158.7...
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.