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If someone suddenly invented the Star Trek replicator, it would be instantly outlawed. The entirety of Corporate America would dump $ billions into lobbying for
by ryandrake 2y ago
If someone suddenly invented the Star Trek replicator, it would be instantly outlawed. The entirety of Corporate America would dump $ billions into lobbying for the harshest possible penalties for producing, selling, owning, or using one.
- indoordin0saur 2y agoBut the corporation who invented the replicator would have trillions and would theoretically be able to out lobby them.
- ryandrake 2y agoI supposed we'd reach the inevitable equilibrium: Corporations are allowed to use and profit from replicators, but individual people are not.
- worldsayshi 2y agoEventually replicators that can make other replicators would get invented and then who can or would care to enforce those laws?
- ryandrake 2y agoEveryone has access to the "copy / cp" commands, yet the USA to this day criminalizes its use on certain digital files, at the behest of the (relatively small) Copyright Industry. I have no doubt that a working "copy, but for physical stuff" would be criminalized in the same way, this time with massive physical goods industries pushing for legislation. Enforcement would be draconian.
- indoordin0saur 2y ago> Enforcement would be draconian. Or at least some industry advocacy group would resurrect the "You wouldn't download a car!" ad campaign.
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- worldsayshi 2y agoIf it was an almost-replicator big corps would mass produce it and sell it. If it was an actual replicator that can also make other replicators you'd only need a few of them before anyone can get one from their neighbour.
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]