I disagree that IP laws as such are necessary to your business.
What *is* necessary is enforcement of contracts. Unfortunately our current system uses patent and other IP laws as a substitute for NDA's and other contractual agreements.
Think about it. If you could draw up a combination NDA and "You can't use anything you learn" contract, and have real confidence that it would be enforced by the courts if necessary, then you wouldn't really need the patent. If your technology is really as great as you think it is, then nobody is going to be able to come up with something similar unless they get it from you.
Granted, patents are more convenient for you, but I think we've seen what happens when laws are written based on expedience rather than fundamental principles.
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I disagree that IP laws as such are necessary to your business. What *is* necessary is enforcement of contracts. Unfortunately our current system uses patent and other IP laws as a substitute for NDA's and other contractual agreements. Think about it. If you could draw up a combination NDA and "You can't use anything you learn" contract, and have real confidence that it would be enforced by the courts if necessary, then you wouldn't really need the patent. If your technology is really as great as you think it is, then nobody is going to be able to come up with something similar unless they get it from you. Granted, patents are more convenient for you, but I think we've seen what happens when laws are written based on expedience rather than fundamental principles.