Give us money for our IP, but without us telling you what that IP is

October 9th, 2007

Sigh. I can only hope this is beginning to appear to the rest of the world (those outside the FOSS realm) as odd and frustrating as it does to me. I have no problem paying for software. I haven’t had to do so for some time, thanks to this amazing community, but I would be willing to do so to support openness, quality, and freedom. What I refuse to pay for anymore is someone demanding, and attempting to enforce, eternal loyalty while, at the same time, attempting to extract from me any and all forms of freedom possible. It’s like the the administration of the Hotel California are inviting you to stay with them at a discount. The only drawback is that once people check in, they can never leave.

You can use this piece of software on only one computer, ever…not just one at a time, only one specific piece of hardware. Huh?! I’ll gladly pay you for your hard work, for development expenses, for time spent creating good software from nothing, or even for building something new upon the foundation of past successes. I won’t buy it if you tell me when, where and how I am allowed to use it.

You may only listen to this song, that we acknowledge you paid for legally, on one device. If you wish to listen to it on a different device, you have to pay a second time. What?! Really?! My cassette tape can only be played in my home stereo? I can’t take it into my car and play it there, unless I buy a second one?

I am a content creator (see the My Book link on the right side of this blog’s home page). I appreciate payment for my work. I do not expect that only one person will read a particular copy of the book. I would love it if ten people read the same copy, even if it means that I earn a little less money, the ideas are more important to me. I have written music and recorded it. I’ve given away copies of my songs to friends. I have never sold my music professionally, because frankly, I don’t think it is that good. However, I love that some people have enjoyed listening to what I have created, and I would feel honored if others wanted to use my ideas as a springboard to create something better.

That last sentence describes how art, literature, and even science have flourished in the past, and why we are seeing them (I believe) fail to grow in the same manner in which they used to. Lawrence Lessig makes a better argument on this than I do…if the idea intrigues you, read his book Free Culture: The Nature and Future of Creativity for more detailed thoughts.

My little tirade began with an article I read this morning. You can find it here: Groklaw - MS/Ballmer talks about IP. What made me cringe was that the argument is being taken even further than before…now, the threat is, like was done previously by SCO, “We know you are using our intellectual property. We won’t tell you what it is, but you have to pay us for protection from lawsuits.” This is bullying, plain and simple. It was illegal when done by the Mob and its gangsters. It is illegal when neighborhood hoodlums attempt to reign in terror upon urban shopkeepers. Hmm…

Entry Filed under: General