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Intellectual Property Laws bad for business

Posted by Hemos on from the intellects-are-sometimes-bad-for-business dept.

mshiltonj writes "The NYTimes has a story called "Report Raises Questions About Fighting Online Piracy" that talks about how the stringent enforcement of current Intellectual Property laws (see: RIAA) may acutally be bad for business. It's the not EFF or FSF saying this, it's professors at Harvard Business School and Cardozo Law School. The professors say, "The ideas of copy-left, or of a more liberal regime of copyright, are receiving wider and wider support, It's no longer a wacky idea cloistered in the ivory tower; it's become a more mainstream idea that we need a different kind of copyright regime to support the wide range of activities in cyberspace." and "Bits are not the same as atoms. We need to reframe the legal discussion to treat the differences of bits and atoms in a more thoughtful way.""

9 of 293 comments (clear)

  1. no way! by AssProphet · · Score: 5, Funny

    You mean threatening people into agreeing with your absurd ideals isn't a successful business model?

    1. Re:no way! by sleepnmojo · · Score: 3, Funny

      It worked for my mom, but I wouldn't call that business.

  2. A scene on campus... by Spoing · · Score: 4, Funny
    1. The professors say, "The ideas of copy-left, or of a more liberal regime of copyright, are receiving wider and wider support, It's no longer a wacky idea cloistered in the ivory tower; it's become a more mainstream idea that we need a different kind of copyright regime to support the wide range of activities in cyberspace."

    Man-on-the-street: "But, aren't you a member of that group of ivory tower theorists?"

    Profs: [runs off] "AAHAHAHA! Man the battlements! Back, I say to thee, BACK!"

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    A firewall can not protect you from yourself. Turn off what you do not need. Do not use the firewall to do your work.
  3. Unamerican! by Stiletto · · Score: 5, Funny


    This is unamerican and illegal thought!!! Whether it be atoms or bits, everything needs to be owned and properly licensed for use! The idea that something can be free for all borders on communism and treason! Here in the U$A we must ensure that authors and inventors rule the use of their work with an iron fist! Write your senators and the FBI, these traitorous academics must be silenced and jailed, in order to preserve their freedom!

    1. Re:Unamerican! by goldspider · · Score: 2, Funny

      This is greedy and immoral thought!!! Whether it be atoms or bits, everything must be equally divided among the collective! The idea that something can be 'sold' borders on capitalism and fascism! Here in the USSA we must ensure that authors and inventors freely distribute their work without any expectation of financial gain! Write your senators and the FBI, these traitorous academics must have their personal wealth confiscated and redistributed, in order to preserve their freedom!

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      "Ask not what your country can do for you." --John F. Kennedy
  4. "Bits are not the same as atoms." by mustangsal66 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Right! A bit is 8 electrons.

    --
    Why worry? Each of us is wearing an unlicensed "nucular" accelerator on his back.
    Sig changed for readability by G.W.
  5. d'oh! by whathappenedtomonday · · Score: 3, Funny


    well, if that correlation comes as a surprise, i'm no longer surprised! just look what prohibition did to the alcohol business! ;)

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    I hope I didn't brain my damage.
  6. Re:wired article by orkysoft · · Score: 2, Funny

    You young whippersnappers. I remember when the property laws were introduced. I remember!

    It was to enable those powerful bastards to own more stuff than they need, in order to prevent the poor people from benefiting from it! Property laws are a tool of oppression, but everyone just accepts them as just nowadays.

    Ah, things aren't as they used to be...

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    I suffer from attention surplus disorder.
  7. Re:bad for economy too by Trolling4Dollars · · Score: 2, Funny

    My god! Is the U.S.A. Becoming the "B Ark"? ;P

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    Un-news