David Who? Oh, I See...
I don't know who this geezer is (clearly my fault), but he's seriously right-on. Not only does he have his own foundation that works to find ways for society to live in balance with the natural world that sustains us. Focusing on four program areas – oceans and sustainable fishing, climate change and clean energy, sustainability, and the Nature Challenge - the Foundation uses science and education to promote solutions that conserve nature and help achieve sustainability within a generation.
which is about as right-on as you can get, but he also comes out with statements likeSo if you ask me if it bothers me that politicians are stealing the solutions brought forward by my foundation, the answer is no. To use a computer term, we consider this information “open source.” It’s a free buffet; please take all you like. The whole reason why we do the research is to effect change. If those who have the power to make those solutions happen actually use that information, so much the better. This is how change happens.
Blige. My hero. (Via BoingBoing.)
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Imagine if a US company came up with a fantastic solution to resolving global climate change, but then that company patented it so that no-one and no government could actually implement that solution without paying sizable royalities to the "patent owner".
That scenario is nonsense of course; ideas cannot be patented. But the quote from that link reminds us that in software "the idea" actually can. And if it can apply in one area, how long before non software companies demand equal rights? It's dangerous ground.
Woo, scary stuff: don't say it too loud or someone might hear you....
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