[MURG] Uploading IP (intellectual property)

[Randal A. Koene]

Hi there,

A few subjective comments:

On Mon, 8 Mar 2004, Yan King Yin wrote:

> >like GNU and PLOS.
>
> As I pointed out before, IP does not prevent disclosure or
> publication, it actually facilitates openness.

I hope you do know that there is a big difference between the intentions
of GNU and patents.

> There isn't much reason to feel sad. Federal funding appears
> to be free only because it is a hidden cost. Therefore the
> 'spirit of openness' is actually an illusion.

It's not hidden. In the U.S. you can hear congress debate openly about
science funding (see CSPAN).

> Commercialization of R&D actually saves people money as it
> makes research more efficient, because business is by nature
> geared towards higher efficiency. Also, We can organize the

In many cases I tend to agree - when the "D" of R&D is involved, namely
once you enter the development stage. Curiously though, in the medical
field (which mind uploading is in) that doesn't seem to be true either.
One has only to observe the price gouging practices of health insurance
and other health related companies in the U.S. compared to the more
heavily regulated health industries in for example Europe and Canada. It's
a complicated issue and I won't pretend to fully understand it. Let's just
say that efficiency is not a foregone conclusion.

Cheers,
       Randal