From: SVDSD::PETCHER@ti-eg.CSNET (Old engineers do it with a slide rule)
Subject: FREE LUNCH
Date: Sat, 20-Dec-86 21:24:00 EST [thread overview]
Date: Sat Dec 20 21:24:00 1986
Message-ID: <8612310531.AA06946@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> (raw)
There is plenty of precedent for the use of public domain and government
funded technology as a springboard for private enterprise. In general, the
results have been beneficial for all. A striking example has been the
evolution of the integrated circuit. Government funding for space and
military programs has produced technological leaps, but the resulting
technology is available to give you a better radio in a smaller package.
Similarly, private, corporate, and government efforts produce software which
is placed in the public domain. There's nothing wrong with somebody using
that software as a technological springboard for developing a saleable
product. Of course, if the value added does not equal the price, then as Rick
Conn says, "Caveat emptor."
As to the "free lunch" analogy: Sometime, somewhere, somebody invented the
hamburger. That invention is, eventually, placed in the public domain. Now,
I go out for lunch, and get a hamburger. Keep in mind, I don't want the
rights to the hamburger, I just want a copy. I could, if I wanted to, go home
and make my own hamburger, but I prefer the convenience of having a restaurant
do it for me, for which they will charge medium costs, labor, and some
reasonable profit. Further more, they may have some unique (value added)
addition to the hamburger, in which case I might pay a premium price, but it's
my choice to do so.
Malcolm
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