[oclug] Linux kernel development loses BitKeeper

[Ross Jordan]

It would seem miden, on Sat, Apr 16, 2005 at 11:49:57PM -0400, wrote:
> Ross Jordan wrote:
> >It would seem Brad Barnett, on Sat, Apr 16, 2005 at 06:37:27PM -0400, 
> >wrote:
> >
> >>On Sat, 16 Apr 2005 18:12:22 -0400
> >>Adrian Irving-Beer <wisq-oclug at wisq.net> wrote:
> >>Wouldn't there be tons of new inventions and ideas coming out the
> >>door, if there was no restriction on how things were produced and
> >>controlled?  
> >
> >This is arguable. With no IP laws, there would be less reason to
> >create (reduced economic incentive); and probably less creative works. 
> >But too much IP regulation can also be cumbersome to inventions, 
> >especially when derivative works are disallowed.
> >
> >-Ross
> 
> 'probably less creative works'? I'm assuming you mean 'fewer' rather
> than works that show less creativity.

Yes, this is what I meant.

> Painters, sculptors, craftsmen of all kinds, dancers etc. etc. have
> always worked without IP laws. It is not uncommon for someone in these
> areas to work 'in the school of' or 'in the manner of' - often to the
> extent that it is difficult to differentiate one artist from another
> (skilled appraisers can make a lot of money as a result).
> 
> This is not a trivial matter as it can be demonstrated that it takes
> just as long or longer to learn the skills necessary to paint well (for
> example) as it does to code well and yet artists don't try to claim IP
> rights to styles, techniques, or even mannerisms in an effort to protect
> their 'investment' in time or money spent learning, researching,
> exploring, developing, producing, and so on.

Well, not entirely true. Many painters make printings of their works;
lithographs, postcards, or sell their rights to the images for use
in calendars, museum gift shops etc. And clearly in the book, film, 
and movie industry; there is an effort (at least by some) to get
increased IP laws.

> As for the amount of time it takes to produce an individual work (think
> 'program'), it is true that some artists 'crank' out work but many will
> spend months or longer on a single work. 
But some artists will sell prints of the work.
And some programmers will release their code public domain.

> In terms of financial
> investment, many modern works need considerable patron support over an
> extended period of time and when that support is unavailable (and it is
> usually unavailable) the artist will have to provide that support
> him/her self.
> 
> Little financial support and no IP protection ...and the flood of
> creativity continues unabated.

I am not suggestion that "art" would die if IP protections went away;
certainly culture and art have existed since long before the first
copyright laws were installed and they will continue to exists regardless
of the state of laws. However, I do beleive that there would be some
decrease in the volume of creative works published if there were no
intellectual property rights (not that this is a bad thing, inherently).

-Ross