Reply to Intellectual Property

Thomas Jefferson and several modern writers used fire as an analogy for copying intellectual property. We can light many candles from one without diminishing the light or heat obtained from the first candle.Suppose a group of people go camping in the wilderness using primitive methods. One person gets fire started. Others want to start their fire from hers. Can you think of any ethical or practical reason why they should be expected to trade something, perhaps some wild fruit they found, for the use of fire?

Not to share what you have, especially knowing that others need it to live, would be considered selfishness. However, it would also be rude for one person just to use something without extending any gratitude for making something or giving him credit. This case of the fire is also true to the case of intellectual property rights.

So I would say that the best case would be for both of them to share something they have and work together to survive the wild, after all nobody would live alone. So it is just right to credit both parties for their contributions. It is always wise to give credit someone for what he has done. Only credit and nothing more.

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Rodolfo Eregia, Jr.
http://rejr-ofthefuture.blogspot.com