4 ms·
Blatantly copying somebody's magic trick from which they make a living from and then literally packaging and selling it as your own is downright dirty.
by GigabyteCoin 15y ago
Blatantly copying somebody's magic trick from which they make a living from and then literally packaging and selling it as your own is downright dirty.
- wdewind 15y agoWhat do you think software developers do for a living?
- rollypolly 15y agoSoftware is a little different. It generally comes with a license specifying what can or can't be done with it.
- coryl 15y agoBut you don't need a license to copy a software's design or concept.
- chii 15y agoso this is the real crux of the question - should someone who come up with an idea be protected (with the goal of encouraging people to come up with more/better ideas).
- wdewind 15y agoSorry I should've been clearer. If as software developers you are under the impression that you are not stealing other people's jobs (aka tricks) by packaging them, making them more efficient, and selling them more cheaply, you are wrong. I love Penn and Teller but I was pretty bummed to read this story, it's so anti-competitive, and Penn's comments smacked of elitism, especially about how "elegant" the "real" way Teller did the trick was.
- GigabyteCoin 15y agoThere is a difference between public common knowledge on "what is good programming practice" and a trick that teller came up with on his own time and made a point telling nobody about.
- wdewind 15y agoStill missing my point. Software industry profits by making things more efficient. This removes jobs. Robotics is a great example. Whats the difference between packaging a magic trick one uses to make their living, and a manufacturing skill?
- YmMot 15y agoI think it's a little hazy. Magic has a long tradition of magicians performing similar tricks, and as long as you either reverse-engineered it on your own or came up with your own way to accomplish the illusion, I think most magicians would respect it. I think the issue here is that he's taking the performance whole-sale rather than coming up with a similar illusion. Teller offered to buy him out, which I think is a combination of class on his part and recognition of the nature of tricks in professional magic. It'll be interesting to see what happens.
- njharman 15y agoBlatantly copying somebody's algorithm and then packaging and selling it as your own. You support software patents?
- deleted 15y ago[deleted]