[kefka]

I know there have been gigabytes of text written about copyright and restriction technologies/laws surrounding them. I think I will mention another area which has not been discussed.

What is the US chief export? Machines and Electronic equipment(1). However, one thing glaringly absent from that list is digital media (Music, movies, programs). I would argue that digital media is one of the most important exports, and this requires copyright to enforce effectively.

I can easily imagine that every device we sell could be reduced to very effective 3d models (and circuit models, as well as code to use). In that end, everything we would export is the information how to reproduce. We RepRappers already freely trade and remix designs made by others. For us, a 50kB scad file is more than enough to reproduce the next cool object.

I can understand the US stance towards copyright, although I heartily disagree with them. Most of the industry requires a strong international copyright and protections because somebody else could copy their designs and make it without R&D cost.

(1) http://www.worldsrichestcountries.com/top_us_exports.html

[naner]

We create a lot of digital goods so we should convince other countries that they are extremely valuable and must be made exclusive?

If I was a country who provided mostly goods and services I don't think I would be so easily convinced.

[danielweber]

The bulk of new creation in the future is going to be in IP, not physical goods. Most other countries have their own IP that they want protected as well.

It's true that developing nations (read: China) often don't respect other countries' IP rights. The US didn't either when it was still young. But eventually countries get out of that catch-up phase and start actually inventing things of their own that they want protected.

[bo1024]

I'm not sure how what you're saying relates to the article...?

[kefka]

I was mentioning something that was orthogonal to the article. DRM is mainly about protecting revenues. Now, what revenues? To make sure the end user pays for each and every use of a copyrighted X. DRM is only the means to enforce copyright.

Our country is a huge exporter of copyrighted goods. Now, much of those have physical objects on them as well. But still, I would argue our chief export IS the information how to build/do.

I sit in a very precarious world of current 3d printing. I'm old enough to have seen "dont coppy that floppy" by MC Hammer. I also saw the Napster empire build up and come a-crumbling down. We all saw what our DOJ is willing to do to shut down an evil piracy center (MegaUpload). We'll skip the fact that the FBI used the fact that they asked MU to save said pirated files, and then used that as the basis.

But what of 3d printing? That turns all of my consumer-ish 'whoops it's broken' to download/design failed part, print said part! The fun part is those gears can be patented and/or copyrighted. At the Midwest Reprap Festival, there was a person who was talking about a gear set made for a vacuum manufacturer that was known for having NO spare parts anywhere. Someone online, made a gear library for these non-standard gears for this vacuum.

I see the copyright argument and fight over 3d printing to make the Napster one look like a cakewalk. And I havent even discussed DefCad yet, with print your own Guns. That's a teergrube all in itself.

Guns being defined by the lower receiver, and not any pressurized or load bearing part. This is defined by the US govt.