IP: from Reed Re: Software Engineering, Dijkstra, and Hippocrates: ]

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Date: Sun, 27 May 2001 11:24:25 -0400
> To: farber () cis upenn edu
> From: "David P. Reed" <dpreed () reed com>
> Subject: Re: IP: Re: Software Engineering, Dijkstra, and Hippocrates: ]
> Cc: Brad Cox <bcox () virtualschool edu>
>
> Every once in a while, the "all information must be property" fringe goes 
> over the top in absurdity.  Brad Cox's latest note that you forwarded on 
> IP blaming open source for unreliable software engineering deserves a 
> response before it becomes "consensus reality"...feel free to post on IP 
> if you like.
>
> I'd love to see any  references that make the case that Civil Engineering 
> (or its "technological maturity") is grounded in intellectual property 
> rights.  Especially since the former field is much older than the latter 
> concepts.
>
> As a person with a long-standing and passionate avocation in exploring the 
> history of technological systems, I have never encountered such a claim.
>
> Since civil engineering practice predates the invention of "copyright" and 
> "patent" laws even in their most primitive form, this claim would seem to 
> be absurd.  Bridge, cathedral, and road designs were highly mature and 
> scientific without the benefit of "IP protection".  In fact, engineers and 
> designers built on each others' designs just fine.
>
> As for mechanical engineers, the same holds true - Roman catapults worked 
> pretty darn well without patent laws, for example.
>
> Buildings did not fall down in the 15th century because we didn't have 
> "effective intellectual property protection".
>
> Even modern mathematics and science were developed quite effectively 
> without "intellectual property protection" to make them "reliable" and 
> bug-free.
>
> I hardly think that Open Source (whatever other problems it may have as it 
> matures) can be blamed for unreliable software because it refuses 
> intellectual property protection.



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