[Patents] limiting freedom for innovators

[Bernard Lang <Bernard.Lang@inria.fr> (Bernard Lang)]

FYI

Wall Street Journal:


COOL IDEAS ARE PUT ON HOLD
 Techies are bracing themselves for a long cold winter of economic
downturn, as funding for new ideas dries up and companies move toward
risk-avoidance strategies to survive the current climate. Many
observers say this recent "Dark Ages" is simply part of the cycle of
boom and bust in the industry, with the last such period occurring
after the PC revolution, when innovation went dormant until the Web
set off a new round of activity.  "Innovation comes when there is a
tender balance between chaos and bureaucracy, and not too much of
either takes over," says longtime entrepreneur Brewster Kahle. "Now it
is difficult to experiment because of a number of factors, like lack
of funding, lack of fortitude, the increasing power of big companies
over the Internet that limits freedom for innovators. If you ask
permission, you lose." Echoing those sentiments is Stanford University
Law School professor Lawrence Lessig, whose new book, "The Future of
Ideas: The Fate of the Commons in a Connected World," warns about the
technical, legal and regulatory restrictions that are being foisted on
the system by large players intent on entrenching their power.  "If
you get people to choose not to innovate, it stifles the opportunity
for change," says Lessig. (Wall Street Journal 5 Nov 2001)
http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB1004911517189237800.htm

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