[Ldsoss] Dare I say it ... patents ...

[Shane Hathaway]

Steven H. McCown wrote:
> I just found it interesting that with all the talk about how bad some
> perceive patents, that the church would find them palatable enough to
> solicit them.  From the page, it sounded like the church would keep them and
> profit from them.  Someone once asked me to show them the church's official
> position on patents.  Although some will no doubt argue to the contrary,
> that seemed like an official endorsement, to me.

The church is not and does not aspire to be an authority on patents. 
Does the patent office try to tell you what religion to join?  (No doubt 
there is some patent on how to form or join a religion.)

> Still, I don't like the full swing that some have made.  I've been told that
> I don't have the 'moral right' to keep inventions for my own benefit and
> that they 'belong' to everyone.  I'm still puzzled as to why the majority
> gets to decide that for the individual.

Of course you have the right to profit from your own hard work--I cite 
D&C 130:19 as evidence.  However, the patent system is a poor way to 
protect software.  Copyrights are a much better match.

> In a recent interview
> (http://www.forbes.com/2006/03/21/gnu-gplv3-linux-cz_dl_0321stallman2.html),
> Richard Stallman was asked, "Would it be ethical to steal lines of unfree
> code from companies like Microsoft and Oracle and use them to create a
> "free" version of that program?"
> 
> Here is his answer:   "It would not be unethical, but it would not really
> work, since if Oracle ever found out, it would be able to suppress the use
> of that free software. The reason for my conclusion is that making a program
> proprietary is wrong. To liberate the code, if it is possible, would not be
> theft, any more than freeing a slave is theft (which is what the slave owner
> would surely call it)."

Stallman is using his own personal definition of ethics.  Few people 
agree with his definition.  He still makes good arguments, though.

> We seem to live in a world of ridiculous extremes . where are the 'happy
> mediums'?

Stallman is part of a vocal minority.  If you want a more balanced 
viewpoint, strike up conversations with co-workers, go to conferences, 
and make friends with software developers you respect.

Shane