[gurps] Treaty on Public Utilities and life support devices

[Eric Funk]

> Laws regarding intellectual property may be an invention of the state,
> but the idea behind IP is not.
>
> Example:
> I paint a scene that is wholely a work of my imagination (IE something
> that doesn't occur naturally, the only source of inspiration would be
> my painting).  I refuse to allow anyone else to paint a copy of it.
> Someone does, I beat them up.  The state is not enforcing this, I am.

In your example, what if company B has 50 armed gunmen, and you (as 
independent artist) only have one (or none)? How is your IP enforced?

In a fictional world, does it resort to megacorps sponsors who, through the 
equivalent of international treaties, enforce it for you? We're back to 
governments...  Outside such a protection racket, we might only have the 
altruistic scientists who invent because "this invention should be in all 
homes in the world!"

-
Eric Funk
"Knowledge Brings Fear" -- Motto of Mars University, Futurama