IP Laws and Starting From Scratch

Ever wonder where we might be without copyright and patent laws? Most companies have to start from scratch developing ideas because ideas are locked down by government so that the proliferation is stunted or halted. Sure there might be trade secrets that some companies use, but other ideas like software algorithms and drug formulations could be expanded upon. It’s very possible that someone could further refine an idea instead of having to spend years just getting to where someone else already is.

For example, Ashes of Creation introduced a server bug that allowed for duping. Why? They are having to create their own engine, possibly having to create unique code because someone else did something similar and then copyrighted it. We would probably have a completely different landscape for technology, it’s hard to keep track of all the changes that would occur once the government strongarm was removed.

Would we be a better society if government wasn’t used as a baseball bat to the knee for competitors?