Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA), and Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter (currently X) as well as Square, now called Block Inc. (NYSE:XYZ), have ignited a debate over intellectual property rights. The tech magnates have suggested a complete eradication of IP laws, a move that has stirred controversy in the tech industry. What Happened: Dorsey initiated the discussion with a post on X stating, “delete all IP law.” Musk, who now owns X (formerly Twitter), promptly agreed with Dorsey’s se
  • antonim@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    30·
    5 days ago

    In an ideal society, IP laws would definitely not exist. The idea by itself is inarguably desirable.

    But, more practically, IP laws should be abolished or reformed to accommodate the needs of the average creator and the average consumer. The two people who proposed this change are not average creators in the slightest, they’re looking to benefit primarily their own class, the consequences for the other 99.99% are irrelevant.

    A reform of this type should start at the very least with small and realistic steps. Can we e.g. reduce the absurd duration of copyright protection (author’s life + 70 years)? Reducing it by just 20-30 years would be an incredible boon to human culture, and it would have zero serious negative consequences.

    But they only talk about it in the most vague terms, no details or anything, and Dorsey doesn’t seem to have actually described any of those other ways of compensation. They’re just greedy megalomaniacs throwing ideas around.