No, Harry, I shouldn't and I won't.
Please don't attribute things to me that I never said.
Charles Mueller, Editor
ANTITRUST LAW & ECONOMICS REVIEW
http://webpages.metrolink.net/~cmueller
*********
t 12:09 PM 12/22/97 -0800, you wrote:
>Charles wrote:
>
>>Harry:
>> Wrong Charles. I've never suggested abolishing the Patent Office.
>> Charles Mueller
>
>No, I did - but you should.
>
>The power of Microsoft and many of the other monopolies rests on their
>patent ownership. Get rid of patents and copyrights and the monopolies
>would have to fight it out in the marketplace - and win by providing better
>service than any others.
>
>There are other protectors of monopoly, such as import tariffs and quotas,
>licences, subsidies, ownership of natural resources, and so on.
>
>However, a good place to start would be to abolish the patent office.
>
>Then Microsoft would have to sweat for its dollars.
>
>Harry
>---------------------------------------------------------
>
>>>HARRY: None of the problems would arise if the Patent Office were
>>>abolished.
>>>
>>>So, that is the answer.
>>>
>>>And before anyone starts worrying about people not inventing
>>>things without patent protection, remember Wordstar.
>>>
>>>Wordstar had no protection of any kind. All of us used it
>>>from the moment we got our young hands on a computer. But,
>>>as we got older and went to work, what did we know? Why
>>>clunky old Wordstar. The offices bought the program because
>>>'everyone' knew it.
>>>
>>>Other programmers piggy-backed their programs on the old
>>>favorite and a Wordstar dynasty was born and we were all
>>>pressing ^KB, ^KY, and similar horrible key combinations
>>>which, however, we all knew - and often became the standard
>>>key-presses for other programs.
>>>
>>>If my memory serves me right, some 3 million copies were
>>>sold before better word processing began to arrive.
>>>
>>>Well, that didn't matter. Wordstar brought out its 'Wordstar
>>>2000' and proceeded to make an horrendous mistake.
>>>
>>>It protected the new program.
>>>
>>>Programmers, who had helped to make Wordstar a dynasty had
>>>trouble with the encryption process and turned away from it.
>>>
>>>As did the customers in their millions.
>>>
>>>After 6 months, the company removed the protection, but it
>>>was too late.
>>>
>>>Now, if you see Wordstar it is bundled with a new machine as
>>>one of the GREAT programs offered.
>>>
>>>The lesson should be learned. When Wordstar was free for
>>>anyone to use, it prospered. Once it was protected, it went
>>>down the drain.
>>>
>>>Let me say that we should get rid of patents and copyright
>>>protection. We don't need them.
>>>
>>>Only downside is that Charles would be out of a job.
>>>
>>>A merry Christmas to everyone and a Great New Year!
>
>>>
>>>Harry
>
>
>
