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"Ideas" are not property. You are allowed to steal them. Who makes the money depends on business savvy and luck (probably more on luck). Greenspan just comes ac

by akd 18y ago

"Ideas" are not property. You are allowed to steal them. Who makes the money depends on business savvy and luck (probably more on luck). Greenspan just comes across as bitter that the dice didn't fall his way, and that he is not being compensated for having a similar idea earlier.

gscott 18y ago
If someone tells you an idea and you personally do it, great. If you tell me you are going to help me, then without my knowledge turn around and take all of the information I have been feeding you to help me and you do it, then that is a level above just hearing a "good idea".
- adrianwaj 18y ago
  Also, if someone has an idea, who'd be the first person you want on your team if you like the idea? The person with the idea. Without knowing the facts, the onus would have been on Zuckerberg to be upfront and try to include Greenspan as much as possible, I think. "Hey, I like your idea so much that I actually want to execute on it. Sorry." At least Z's guilt can dissipate if it turns into a success. Personally, I've seen people use my ideas and thoughts. Their error is not to include me. Blog Nation I think could've started on the back of my prototype site (I'm not totally sure), but it has now crashed and burned, and I emailed the founder with a link before BN started. At first I was somewhat peeved, and now it's somewhat amusing. People with ideas and executive ability are rare perhaps. Some people can spot a good idea but not generate one, and they are always on the lookout for ideas. Others generate but can't separate the wheat from the chaff. For the former, one might want all the credit and glory and leave the latter in the cold and isolated as much as possible. Both need to reconcile with each other as best as possble, as is happening now in the Facebook saga. Greenspan has learned the hard way perhaps. Sometimes you have to know when to move on.
hunterjrj 18y ago
This is just plain wrong. Ideas certainly are property. Ever heard of a patent?
- olefoo 18y ago
  You are wrong; a patent is the _rights_ to exploit an idea, but it is not the idea itself, and one of the explicit purposes of the patent system is to ensure that the ideas behind the patent are made public.
  - olefoo 18y ago
    I was wrong about this; a patent is the right to _exclude others_ from making, building, using or otherwise developing an invention. Subtle but important difference.

by akd 18y ago

gscott 18y ago

If someone tells you an idea and you personally do it, great. If you tell me you are going to help me, then without my knowledge turn around and take all of the information I have been feeding you to help me and you do it, then that is a level above just hearing a "good idea".

adrianwaj 18y ago
Also, if someone has an idea, who'd be the first person you want on your team if you like the idea? The person with the idea. Without knowing the facts, the onus would have been on Zuckerberg to be upfront and try to include Greenspan as much as possible, I think. "Hey, I like your idea so much that I actually want to execute on it. Sorry." At least Z's guilt can dissipate if it turns into a success. Personally, I've seen people use my ideas and thoughts. Their error is not to include me. Blog Nation I think could've started on the back of my prototype site (I'm not totally sure), but it has now crashed and burned, and I emailed the founder with a link before BN started. At first I was somewhat peeved, and now it's somewhat amusing. People with ideas and executive ability are rare perhaps. Some people can spot a good idea but not generate one, and they are always on the lookout for ideas. Others generate but can't separate the wheat from the chaff. For the former, one might want all the credit and glory and leave the latter in the cold and isolated as much as possible. Both need to reconcile with each other as best as possble, as is happening now in the Facebook saga. Greenspan has learned the hard way perhaps. Sometimes you have to know when to move on.

hunterjrj 18y ago

This is just plain wrong. Ideas certainly are property. Ever heard of a patent?

olefoo 18y ago
You are wrong; a patent is the _rights_ to exploit an idea, but it is not the idea itself, and one of the explicit purposes of the patent system is to ensure that the ideas behind the patent are made public.
- olefoo 18y ago
  I was wrong about this; a patent is the right to _exclude others_ from making, building, using or otherwise developing an invention. Subtle but important difference.