:Groklaw: Reflections on Intellectual Property Rights
Groklaw: Reflections on Intellectual Property Rights Aug 6, 2004, 07 :00 UTC (4 Talkback[s]) (7098 reads) (Other stories by John H. Terpstra)
"There is much preoccupation with so-called intellectual property laws. There are businesses that are eager to pursue litigation almost as soon as new laws are passed. Safeguards in the form of patent laws, copyright agreements, service mark and trademark laws are being used to achieve special-interest goals that were perhaps not considered by those who passed these laws into being, but may well have been considered by those who crafted them. Intellectual property laws are designed to limit the use of concepts and are potentially injurious to creativity and innovation.
"This article reflects on vital aspects of the intellectual property debate. We have a responsibility towards future generations to resist the abuse of power or privilege. The use of intellectual property constraints as weapons of business can rapidly degenerate to little more than the selfish initiative of a special interest group in an activity that is hostile towards society as a whole..."
