This short essay at the “Right to Create” explains the fallacy of IT Patents. We are often told by pro-patent advocates that a harmonious patent system is required for a thriving information economy. For those of us involved in IT, this just does not add up. Lawyers cost money, and patents (both the ones you have and the ones you dont have) end up costing businesses money.
“Many of you, no doubt, are familiar with Bastiat’s Parable of the Broken Window, in which is illustrated the fallacy of economic benefit caused by a small boy who throws a stone through the shopkeeper’s window, causing money to be spent by the keeper to pay a glazier to replace the window, which the glazier then uses to buy bread and shoes, etc.”
Like all of Batistat’s fallacies, begin with a widely held belief (e.g. economic protectionism is good), and then this notion is expanded upon in order to reveal it’s real absurdity. In this case, the easayist shows that arguing for IT patents makes as much sense as paying little boys to throw stones through windows.
And as a reminder to information activists, Cory Doctorow is hosting the final Copyfighter’s drunken brunch, possibly somewhere near the Stanhope Centre, near Hyde Park. Do please check Cory’s blog if you care for that sort of thing.
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