Ideas were always infinitely reproducible. The way we evolved is based around this very fact. If we could figure out a way of doing something, this could be transfered to anyone just by telling them or showing them. That's why we have big brains, and not claws or big teeth. I can teach you how to fish or make a bow and arrow; I can't give you a copy of my claws. No other animals can do this the way humans can.
Finally, now our technology is catching up with our basic evolutionary design, and with a vengence.
The amount of time a copyright or patent should last should equal the amount of time it takes for the owner to recoup the money and resources lost in creating that original work. This necessarily means copyrights shouldn't last a specific amount of time per se, but until the owner is properly compensated. That would do the job in giving incentive, and that would then free up the works for everyone else as soon as the owner was compensated.
In practice, it would make a new layer of beauracarcy and inspire even more forms of fraud, but we already get that with reporting taxes, so I think it could be handled.
Of course, no one would ever consider really implementing an idea like this, just because it is too different for the little minds that run everything.
The funny thing is, this isn't really funny. Our brains are information processors, and any controls on processing information is really controls on what we think. So in the end, intellectual property law results in mind control.
I mean, if we did have photographic memories and could store what we see and hear and recall it perfectly, and communicate this to others perfectly, it would currently be illegal. And yet, that is what we already do with smaller amounts of information (e. g. speech). All these devices that we create to help us improve our information processing capability (writing, the abacus, sound recording, film, computers) are just extensions of our brains, and in the not too distant future, these capabilities will be built right into our minds (Kurzweil).
So like I said. This isn't really funny. Intellectual property really means controlling what we think.
"Their work focuses on a section of the primate brain known as the posterior parietal cortex. Using high-tech brain scans, the researchers determined that small clumps of cells in this region--as few as 16--were active in the formation of the desire to carry out specific body movements."
"Speaking with Reuters Health, Meeker said her group's work differs from previous research in that it seeks to replicate the brain-motor connection ``at the level of the first inclination to make a movement.''
Many teams around the world are trying to set up some sort of direct connection between the brain and external devices. Most efforts focus on the motor cortex, or just on exterior brain wave scans.
This team is focusing on the parietal lobe of the brain, which is where the intended motions are formulated. When we want to move something, the parietal lobe tells the motor cortex what to do, and the motor cortex figures out exactly what our muscles need to do to do it. For example, if you wanted to pick up a cup, the parietal lobe figures out how to hold your hand and move your arm to accomplish this, and then the motor cortex actually tells the muscles how much force to apply to move the arm and hand as commanded.
So this work is actually trying to intercept commands from the brain at a much earlier stage then anyone has before, much closer to the level of where the thoughts are created. It is very interesting stuff, and it will be quite amazing when the full potential is realized.
Note, I am not an expert in this field. I just saw a talk given by a memeber of this team at last years Caltech Alumni Seminar day, and this is what he said.
Slashdot Mirror
Is there any hope that Miracle Man will ever continue beyond the first issue of "The Silver Age"?
Ideas were always infinitely reproducible. The way we evolved is based around this very fact. If we could figure out a way of doing something, this could be transfered to anyone just by telling them or showing them. That's why we have big brains, and not claws or big teeth. I can teach you how to fish or make a bow and arrow; I can't give you a copy of my claws. No other animals can do this the way humans can.
Finally, now our technology is catching up with our basic evolutionary design, and with a vengence.
The amount of time a copyright or patent should last should equal the amount of time it takes for the owner to recoup the money and resources lost in creating that original work. This necessarily means copyrights shouldn't last a specific amount of time per se, but until the owner is properly compensated. That would do the job in giving incentive, and that would then free up the works for everyone else as soon as the owner was compensated.
In practice, it would make a new layer of beauracarcy and inspire even more forms of fraud, but we already get that with reporting taxes, so I think it could be handled.
Of course, no one would ever consider really implementing an idea like this, just because it is too different for the little minds that run everything.
I mean, if we did have photographic memories and could store what we see and hear and recall it perfectly, and communicate this to others perfectly, it would currently be illegal. And yet, that is what we already do with smaller amounts of information (e. g. speech). All these devices that we create to help us improve our information processing capability (writing, the abacus, sound recording, film, computers) are just extensions of our brains, and in the not too distant future, these capabilities will be built right into our minds (Kurzweil).
So like I said. This isn't really funny. Intellectual property really means controlling what we think.
"Their work focuses on a section of the primate brain known as the posterior parietal cortex. Using high-tech brain scans, the researchers determined that small clumps of cells in this region--as few as 16--were active in the formation of the desire to carry out specific body movements."
"Speaking with Reuters Health, Meeker said her group's work differs from previous research in that it seeks to replicate the brain-motor connection ``at the level of the first inclination to make a movement.''
Many teams around the world are trying to set up some sort of direct connection between the brain and external devices. Most efforts focus on the motor cortex, or just on exterior brain wave scans.
This team is focusing on the parietal lobe of the brain, which is where the intended motions are formulated. When we want to move something, the parietal lobe tells the motor cortex what to do, and the motor cortex figures out exactly what our muscles need to do to do it. For example, if you wanted to pick up a cup, the parietal lobe figures out how to hold your hand and move your arm to accomplish this, and then the motor cortex actually tells the muscles how much force to apply to move the arm and hand as commanded.
So this work is actually trying to intercept commands from the brain at a much earlier stage then anyone has before, much closer to the level of where the thoughts are created. It is very interesting stuff, and it will be quite amazing when the full potential is realized.
Note, I am not an expert in this field. I just saw a talk given by a memeber of this team at last years Caltech Alumni Seminar day, and this is what he said.