Difference between revisions of "Low risk"
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# The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuition cost of training] is low: the internet overflows with programming learning materials and [[open source software]] projects looking for contributors. | # The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuition cost of training] is low: the internet overflows with programming learning materials and [[open source software]] projects looking for contributors. | ||
| − | In this regard, software development does not resemble an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industry industrial activity] like [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining mining] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manufacturing manufacturing]. It is an extremely [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk-return_spectrum low risk] venture, yet a single programmer can, and frequently does, innovate leaps and bounds beyond the industry state of the art.<ref>[http://git-scm.com git, the fast version control system] original author: Linus Torvalds</ref> | + | In this regard, software development does not resemble an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industry industrial activity] like [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining mining] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manufacturing manufacturing]. It is an extremely [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk-return_spectrum low risk] venture, yet a single programmer can, and frequently does, innovate leaps and bounds beyond the industry [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_the_art state of the art].<ref>[http://git-scm.com git, the fast version control system] original author: Linus Torvalds</ref> |
The purpose of the patent system, the devil's bargain, is to promote innovation in high risk industries. Software development is a low risk industry. [[Software innovation happens without patents]]. In the software realm, the patent system only hinders [[innovation]], because it introduces risk where none existed. When it comes to software, the devil's bargain is ''no bargain''. The justification does not apply, thus we should not be surprised that the system fails to induce the intended effect, and in fact induces just the opposite effect: stagnation. | The purpose of the patent system, the devil's bargain, is to promote innovation in high risk industries. Software development is a low risk industry. [[Software innovation happens without patents]]. In the software realm, the patent system only hinders [[innovation]], because it introduces risk where none existed. When it comes to software, the devil's bargain is ''no bargain''. The justification does not apply, thus we should not be surprised that the system fails to induce the intended effect, and in fact induces just the opposite effect: stagnation. | ||
Revision as of 22:19, 25 April 2010
The devil's bargain[1] can be called a bargain only if it benefits someone besides the devil. A major justification for the bargain, the encouragement of entry by new people with new ideas into industries with high cost of entry, i.e. high risk, does not apply to software development.[2] Software development is exceptionally cheap, thus low risk.
- The cost of equipment is minuscule compared to other business activities: buy a single personal computer and lease an internet connection and you are ready for action.
- The cost of training is low: the internet overflows with programming learning materials and open source software projects looking for contributors.
In this regard, software development does not resemble an industrial activity like mining or manufacturing. It is an extremely low risk venture, yet a single programmer can, and frequently does, innovate leaps and bounds beyond the industry state of the art.[3]
The purpose of the patent system, the devil's bargain, is to promote innovation in high risk industries. Software development is a low risk industry. Software innovation happens without patents. In the software realm, the patent system only hinders innovation, because it introduces risk where none existed. When it comes to software, the devil's bargain is no bargain. The justification does not apply, thus we should not be surprised that the system fails to induce the intended effect, and in fact induces just the opposite effect: stagnation.
Related pages on ESP Wiki
References
- ↑ What If The Very Theory That Underlies Why We Need Patents Is Wrong? Mike Masnick for techdirt.com Apr 15, 2010
- ↑ Modeling a Paradigm Shift: From Producer Innovation to User and Open Collaborative Innovation Carliss Y. Baldwin and Eric A. Von Hippel November 25, 2009
- ↑ git, the fast version control system original author: Linus Torvalds
