Re: IP law and society (was "protecting inventions")

From: Bert Boyce <lsboyc[_at_]lsuvm.sncc.lsu.edu>
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 1997 09:31:04 -0500

On 6/18/97, Dan Agin <specpress[_at_]earthlink.net> wrote: 

>

> Philosphers explain how we do science; IP attorneys explain why we
> do science; sociologists explain why we do science where we do it;
> psychologists explain why we do science and other people don't; and
> so on. As far as the why (to return to IP law), the answer is simple
> and immediate. Consider, for example, the Pythagorean Theorem. It's
> beautiful and it works. Such thoughts are the engine that has been
> driving scientific progress for five thousand years. Not IP law.

     I agree totally. However, (joining the club of those telling you what you are doing) I think the librarians (like me) need to tell you how you communicate your results, and how you get those of others with whom you do not have a direct association. This is by means of the Scientific literature, and IP law in the hands of commercial publishers is making it impossible for us to maintain collections of this literature for your use.

     IP law is not driving, it is dumping sugar in the fuel.

Bert R. Boyce, Professor & Dean
School of Library & Information Science
Louisiana State University
267 Coates Hall
Baton Rouge, LA 70803

     (504)388-3158
FAX: (504)388-4581
LSBOYC[_at_]LSUVM.sncc.lsu.edu Received on Thu Jun 19 1997 - 14:34:37 GMT

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