The recent revelations about "The Warden" (Blizzard’s anti-hack detection system for World of Warcraft) and Sony’s absurd DRM software (and its EULA), are making headlines everywhere. Are users being robbed of their (our) fundamental rights, or are companies simply exerting theirs? Is law really covering the topics, or are lawyers and companies merely abusing the system to build up power?

This article is very interesting. If you ever felt that Intellectual Property is being interpreted by law and the courts in ways that harm your fundamental rights, but you could never really explain why in reasonably formal terms, you’ll find plenty of arguments there. Take it with a healthy dose of salt, because it also ignores quite a few problems with its approach.

Back in 1993, when I released the popular Fire algorithm, I described the process as "finding it" or "running into it", rather than "creating it". I never created anything! The algorithm was just there, waiting for someone to see it. I just (apparently) happened to be the first person to see what it could do, and applying it. While I defended (and still do) my right to be credited for the discovery, I’d never dream of profiting from that – only from anything I would actually create or build using it; for example, a screensaver which I sold to Erbe Software for their Quick-It tool suite.

In the 21st Century, Newton would be sued by the giants whose shoulders he was standing on. And that’s morally and ethically indefensible.

I guess that sums up my stance on the issue. Which also means, I’ll probably never get rich.