As a casual observer of the human race, I find intellectual property an peculiar subject.
The idea that a human can own an idea.
‘My idea’. Nobody may use my idea without first gaining my permission, and submitting to my demands for recognition, money or control.
Not the intellectual property of any person. Feel free to use as you wish.
It seems to be such a bizarre departure from building blocks of humanity.
Could you imagine the poor cave dweller who invented fire, clubbing to death anyone who used fire without paying him in fine skins? What if the only machine capable of slicing bread was owned by baker who came up with the idea? Do you think Boeing pays royalties to the Wright brothers?
Mimicry is a fundamental part of humanity. Children use it to learn to socialise and communicate. Even adults use it, albeit in more subtle ways, trying to out-do one another, competing in business and sport.
Lets face it, humans are pretty average at most things. They are surpassed by other species at most survival pursuits – running, swimming, strength, eyesight, hearing, smell.
What humans have is intelligence. Key to intelligence is learning, and the mastery of mimicry has streamlined the learning process, leading to a species that is capable of learning more in 10 years than any other animal can in a lifetime (apart from penguins of course).
Despite being the only species to keep written record of history, and actively investigate its own origins, it consistently fails to learn from its own history. I just cannot help but to think that vigourous defence of intellectual property is yet another example of human regression.
