Joe, OT: Re: Software is a private property of the owner, just like your house, your furniture, your clothes. If I create software, I own it, and only allow it to be used by people who paid for it, any other use is the same as if someone came to your house without authorization, used you clothes, used your swimming pool.
Generally I agree with what you are saying but I also have some the problems with this concept. What's with the Physics theory argument Brian provided? Newton created a theory for gravitation. So, according to your logic, it belonged to him. Of course, he published it, so everyone else could understand it as well. But what if he didn't? Would the theory belong to him then? Could he "license" it to everyone that wanted to use it, e.g. for calculating planet orbits? Keep in mind that theories in Physics are as "creative" as writing new software. They are not inherent in the world, they are just ways to describe them. And I'm not sure how you would deal with intellectual concepts.
Andreas |
