“… I’ve been wondering about the validity of the whole
concept of someone being able to “own” a name. Over the last
thousand years or so, the value of a name has evolved from ensuring
the living of skilled craftsmen to the point where the control of
an entry in a database can be worth millions. It certainly has been
an interesting experiment, but perhaps it’s time for something
new?”
“… with the rise of the internet, control of a name means a
corporation is able to create or promote a brand name around the
world, almost instantly. Entire fortunes are won or lost by the
control of names. Control of names is more valuable than ever.”
“My question is: should we continue down this path that is so
obviously frought with peril for personal liberty? What can be done
to preserve personal liberty and protect corporate interests?”