| > If I had an infinite supply of food, I would not think twice about handing it out to others. I don't know why people keep making this analogy, but it's a poor one imho. Here's a better view: * you have to work hard to produce that infinite supply of food, and when you're done people are not going to instantly buy your food ... it takes some time before your expenses are covered * as time passes people will grow tired / bored of eating your food, and sales will drop as other infinite supplies of food from your competitors become available ... food that will keep them entertained * for that not to happen, you immediately start working on a better version of your food supply ... and because expectations have been raised, you now have to work harder ... and it can take months, even years in some cases to produce a successful sequel * you're also not going to abandon your existing customers ... if the food tastes bad sometimes, you've got to fix it. You have to write documentation and provide support, otherwise your customers won't know how to eat your food. And customers can also give valuable feedback that you must process. * for you to keep on working, who's going to cover your expenses, who's going to pay the bills? * and you also have to work a hell of a lot harder than the owner of a gas station that sits on his ass all day watching his employees, and that probably makes more money than you do Really ... you don't see anything wrong with this analogy?
Do you think software just pops out of the ground? Intellectual property is as real as it can be. The only problem are the laws that guard it ... which have been turned against consumers for the benefit of large corporations (not content creators). |
> I don't know why people keep making this analogy, but it's a poor one imho.
You missed his point. It's the customers that suddenly find themselves with an infinite supply of food, for practical purposes, so why should their friends have to pay for food?