Jefferson um hugmyndir og nýsköpun

Skrifað 11. apríl 2003, kl. 00:17

fyrir 190 árum skrifaði bandaríkjamaðurinn Thomas Jefferson eftirfarandi hugleiðingu um eðli hugmynda og nýsköpunar:

If nature has made any one thing less susceptible than all others of exclusive property, it is the action of the thinking power called an idea, which an individual may exclusively possess as long as he keeps it to himself; but the moment it is divulged, it forces itself into the possession of every one, and the receiver cannot dispossess himself of it. Its peculiar character, too, is that no one possesses the less, because every other possesses the whole of it. He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me...

Inventions then cannot, in nature, be a subject of property. Society may give an exclusive right to the profits arising from them, as an encouragement to men to pursue ideas which may produce utility, but this may or may not be done, according to the will and convenience of the society, without claim or complaint from anybody.

-- Thomas Jefferson, 1813

Það má sjá augljós tengsl milli þessara hugleiðinga Jeffersons og praktískra forsenda höfundaréttar og hvers kyns ríkisstyrktra einkaleyfa.

Meira þessu líkt: Höfundaréttur.