[clicks]

> Thought experiment: in games like World of Warcraft, weapons, armor, etc, are trivially reproducible. But would anyone play the game if you could just click on someone's weapon that he stole off a dragon (or whatever it is you do in WoW--I've never played it) and have your own copy?

Not a very good analogy to demonstrate your point, as the scarcity of resources within the game is a central facet of the gameplay.

rayiner, I often see you as the lone man arguing on these things -- about information being free, journals being freely accessible, etc. You're unconvinced as of yet -- so I want to make the recommendation of two of Lawrence Lessig's books to you: Free culture (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Culture_(book)) and Remix (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remix_(book)) -- both freely available for download on a CC license I should add. :)

You're a great writer and I wish more people engaged with you on the points you raise. If you go on to read the two books, I would be genuinely interested in hearing your thoughts.

[roel_v]

"rayiner, I often see you as the lone man arguing on these things "

Probably because it's so futile to argue fundamentalists. I know I have gotten better better at restraining myself from getting dragged into this sort of 'discussions' with people who are not susceptible to any form of reasonableness.

FWIW, it used to be that on this site, the creators were the ones celebrated. Nowadays it seems to have shifted largely to celebrating the freeloaders, or enablers of them.

[tptacek]

The scarcity of WoW goods is precisely as artificial as the scarcity of high-def movies.

[CamperBob2]

Huh? WoW goods are key elements in a game specifically designed around their acquisition. IP is a tiny part of a completely different game we call the "economy," a game that was designed and refined around a radically different class of goods with essentially no attributes in common.

Trying to apply market-economic rules to IP is like trying to use a Zamboni as a lawnmower. Sure, it can be done, but you're going to have to force people to do it, and they are going to invent some very creative workarounds.

When you have to force people to follow the rules, it often means there's something wrong with the rules.

[tptacek]

This is simply a difference of degree. If first-run movies were available to DVR off basic cable, they would also make far less money. In both cases, we discuss the economics of digital goods that derive value from an extrinsic scarcity.

[jhuni]

High-def movies are sold for a profit unlike most WoW goods so they are more like the goods sold in the Maple Story cash shop.