[EthanHeilman]

>Second, information is corroding the market’s ability to form prices correctly. That is because markets are based on scarcity while information is abundant. The system’s defence mechanism is to form monopolies – the giant tech companies – on a scale not seen in the past 200 years, yet they cannot last. By building business models and share valuations based on the capture and privatisation of all socially produced information, such firms are constructing a fragile corporate edifice at odds with the most basic need of humanity, which is to use ideas freely.

This is a fascinating dynamic. How do you charge for information when nearly anyone can replicate it for free?

* Novelty - sure you can get civ4 for 2 dollars, but civ5 is "more desirable".

* Punishment - hexrays blacklisting engineers that use IDApro without a license.

* Technical - DRM it is only mildly effective, but architectural solutions such as gmail or WoW have a low piracy rate.

* Rewards - benefits to compliance, such as steam backing up your saved games and giving you hats.

If a nation were to completely ignore IP law would that provide a competitive advantage to that nation?