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> This is a product that in normal operation manufactures itself. Without patent protection, the farmer would buy at most one batch to seed his fields, and then
by justinclift 6mo ago
> This is a product that in normal operation manufactures itself. Without patent protection, the farmer would buy at most one batch to seed his fields, and then never again.
Isn't that a massive societal benefit vs rent seeking though?
- pfdietz 6mo agoIf we got the seeds from the GMO fairy, yes. If we have to get the seeds from expensive R&D that wouldn't occur without patent protection, then no.
- justinclift 6mo ago> then no. Why not? It's literally a self replicating system. Trying to control that for rent seeking purposes seems pretty unethical.
- pfdietz 6mo ago> Why not? (rolls eyes) Because if no one does the R&D to create the seeds they WON'T EXIST. I would have thought that was 100% obvious, but apparently not!
- justinclift 6mo ago> Because if no one does the R&D to create the seeds they WON'T EXIST. Sure. If no-one does the R&D. Perhaps if rent seeking is the mechanism for getting there, then it's better off if they don't? :)
- pfdietz 6mo agoYes, yes, let's imagine automated turbo communism where all inventions can be made outside the free market. Here in the real world, private firms are the source of things like this. Roundup Ready soybeans involved cooperation from multiple private firms that contributed various elements.
- justinclift 6mo agoThat's the same line Private Equity often trots out, and those seem to corrode the world far more than they improve it.
- pfdietz 6mo agoWow. If a correct argument is made by a morally compromised actor, we can dismiss the argument! Logic is wonderful.