Subj : Re: GNU Public Licences Revisited (again)
To   : comp.programming
From : Antoon Pardon
Date : Wed Sep 21 2005 10:47 am

Op 2005-09-21, Willem schreef <willem@stack.nl>:
> Antoon wrote:
> ) Op 2005-09-21, Chris Sonnack schreef <Chris@Sonnack.com>:
> )> Antoon Pardon writes:
> )>
> )>>>> How does that differ from me, just brewing my own?
> )>>>
> )>>> I think the key factor here is the recipe - assume that Chris has
> )>>> a particularly good recipe for beer and is making a living brewing
> )>>> beer to that recipe.
> )>> 
> )>> I could have a good recipe too, just as others. Maybe Chris got his
> )>> his idea for a recipe from a public source.
> )>
> )> And then spent years and funds developing my own "touch".  If you
> )> steal the fruits of that effort, you are stealing from me.
> )
> ) No I'm not. You don't have any less than before, so you were not
> ) stolen from.
>
> Yes you are.  Let me explain.
>
> The value of something that you create (such as beer) is partly determined
> by how much effort is expended in creating it.
>
> So, if you develop your own touch, that means that the value of beer is
> now partly determined by that effort.  If, however, you copy my touch,
> which takes a lot less effort, that means you have decreased the value of
> beer by your act of copying.
>
> If copying devalues the original, that means it is stealing.  You have
> taken something of value from the creator of the original.

No it doesn't mean that. If an action that devalues something would
mean stealing, then actions that are considered normal trade competition
should be considered stealing.

If I brew my own beer but find a way to produce it cheaper, I can lower
the price of my beer, this will probably make the demand of other beers
less, so it devalues others beers. According to the above logic I'm stealing.

-- 
Antoon Pardon

.