Page:Culture.vs.Copyright 01.pdf/92

Teacher: We agreed on some criteria, remember?
Delta: I remember, and I remember that essentially we reached a conclusion. Free sharing of ideas plus honest attribution boosts businesses, competition and thus benefits everybody!
Gamma: Yes, and why would we look for anything else?
Beta: Well, Alpha can argue that profits are the reward for a businessman’s efforts and benefit the public in the end, but how then is creativity rewarded?
Gamma: By attribution, how else? You created it. People, who use it, honestly say so. Everybody knows you and your role in the invention and recognizes your impact.
Delta: People call or write to you, invite you to give lectures.
Alpha: Me?
Kappa: Aha, Alpha, you! Do you like that more?
Alpha: What’s more? More than what?
Teacher: There were two options.
Alpha: I told you, I’d like both. Everyone would, I’m sure.
Gamma: Well, OK, then we won’t ask you. We’ll turn to the criteria of public good instead.
Alpha: All right, you haven’t answered my question, remember? In the meantime, I have something else to tell you all. Gamma rightly said that it is very natural for me (and I believe it is so for everyone) to wish for both royalties and attribution. Therefore, if you don’t give me all I want, I wouldn’t like it! Then if I come up with yet another recipe, I won’t reveal it to anyone!
Kappa: And what is the point? What will you get?
Alpha: I’ll have my monopoly over it—that’s what I’ll get. I’ll not have competition—that’s what I’ll get. My business will grow—that’s what I’ll get. And that’s it and nothing else! What do you think?
Delta: You will have to put money in marketing.
Alpha: So?
Delta: So? If you don’t have big bucks for that, forget about growing.
Alpha: Really? And what is my other option?
Delta: Another option? I am going to to suggest something terribly new. Reveal your recipe in exchange for attribution.
Alpha: Ah, that is news. And?
Beta: And what? Haven’t we discussed it all?