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From: Richard Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
To: Hartmut Pilch <phm@a2e.de>
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In-reply-to: <Pine.LNX.4.44.0308080951180.2527-100000@querty.oas.a2e.de>
	(message from Hartmut Pilch on Fri, 8 Aug 2003 10:06:04 +0200 (CEST))
Subject: Re: [Patents] Washington Times: Internet Patents Divide Industry
Reply-To: rms@gnu.org
References:  <Pine.LNX.4.44.0308080951180.2527-100000@querty.oas.a2e.de>
Message-Id: <E19lUbM-0006le-N3@fencepost.gnu.org>
Date: Sat, 09 Aug 2003 10:21:48 -0400
X-Validation-by: rms@gnu.org

    The identity of "copyright" or "patents" is very unstable, while the
    requirement of "IP" (i.e. grant an appropriate level of exclusivity which
    allows the originator to capture returns while not impeding independent
    creation) or whatever you name it is stable over time.

I don't understand why you are asking us to regard harmful changes
as inevitable.  That can hardly help us prevent them.  Anyway I don't
believe you.

    Subjecting copyright and patents to common benchmarking is more
    appropriate than stressing their individual identities.

That is a way of obscuring all the real practical issues that affect
us.  It is self-defeating.

