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Originally Posted by ryanmercer  I wouldn't give a flying rat's behind... then again I don't buy into intellectual property... (and before you bash that note that I am published). I think hoarding knowledge is a pretty crappy thing, especially when some lady can write a few books and literally become a billionaire over night (Rowling) the guys at google feel the same... knowledge should be shared in all of it's forms without the need to give something of intrinsic value in exchange for it. |
On some level almost all ideas are intellectual property. Invent a widget, the design of said widget is intellectual property. Without being able to patent it and make a profit off of it the driving force for people to invent the next greatest thing is greatly diminished. One could very easily argue that technology has progressed at the great pace that it has because of the ability to make a buck off of it (patents and the like). Before that (think the dark ages), technology progressed at a snail's pace.
As for your Rowling example. The solution is your very own advice. Don't like her writing, don't buy it. Other people do and they are willing to give her and her publisher money for it. I sense a bit of wealth envy in your post.
As for why Chrome is free. It is for the same reason FF is free and Netscape was (are they still around?) free. Because IE is free. Do you think anyone would pay for a browser when IE comes with Windows (and whatever the Mac equivalent is)?