Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
rights management implanted into design iles. As pointed out by Simon
Bradshaw, Adrian Bowyer and Patrick Haufe, “It is the sharing of (as seen,
legitimately) reverse-engineered designs that is the issue, not original design
documents.”
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Perhaps in anticipation of yet another DRM struggle ahead, the Free
Software Foundation (FSF) created a certiication program called Respects
Your Freedom (RYF). The Foundation will certify hardware vendors whose
products meet the Foundation's standards for user freedom, control over the
product and privacy. On its website, the FSF describes its criteria for its RYF
hardware program. “As citizens and their customers, we need to promote
our desires for a new class of hardware—hardware that anyone can support
because it respects your freedom.” The irst recipient of an RYF certiicate was
the LulzBot 3D printer sold by Aleph Objects, Inc.
Recently I read that some surveys indicate that music piracy rates are inally
starting to diminish. People aren't ceasing to copy music iles because they
fear legal reprisal. Instead, music fans are willingly paying for music because
inally music companies have gotten better at selling digital music. New albums
are quickly released in digital form (not purposefully delayed). And online
storefronts are more user-friendly and the download and payment technolo-
gies have improved.
Exclusivity vs. the freedom to innovate
Why do companies spend so much money in legal fees to prevent rivals and
customers from making copies of their products? A widely held assumption is
that having the exclusive right to make or sell a particular product or brand is
key to making a proit. This notion runs deep. Ardent defenders of intellectual
property rights insist that stringent enforcement and control makes for the
foundation of a strong and innovative economy.
The reality is that it's not that simple. Every industry and product ben-
eits to a different degree. In other words, intellectual property rights are not
always necessary for proitability. In fact, some people argue that patents and
copyrights actually choke the free low of ideas necessary to help innovative
businesses thrive and prosper.
