IP, copyright, secrets and who pays

Confused of Calcutta is a really good place to go if you want to be challenged. I go a lot.

The issue of Intelectual properties, patents and copyright is one that has bugged me for a while. I like owning what I own but keep finding out that when I share it, I get back more. This applies to software, comment and research and even this blog. I am more than please that these thoughts are also in the mind of a Nobel laureate.

JP Rangaswami reports on what he has just said in New Scientist.

....... There’s a fascinating article by Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz in the latest New Scientist. Yes, of course it’s hidden behind a paywall, what did you expect? Here’s the stub.

I quote from the article:

• Locking up products with patents is an unfair and ineffective way to reward innovation.
• There is a growing sentiment that something is wrong with the system governing intellectual property.
• Recent years have seen a strengthening of IP rights…..The changes have been promoted especially by the pharmaceutical and entertainment industries, and by some in the software industry….
• …[some] patents take what was previously in the public domain and “privatise” it — what IP lawyers called the new “enclosure movement”.
• In any system, someone has to pay for research. In the current system, those unfortunate enough to have the disease are forced to pay the price, whether they are rich or poor. And that means the very poor in the developing world are condemned to death

In the relationship value model we see convergence of values to create relationships. Secrets, patents and copyright are not there to build relationships.