🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <ZL4ueB47w164w@mantis.co.uk> mathew@mantis.co.uk (Lieutenant 030) writes:

   > Ah.  So we *did* cover that.  Well, the whole point is that there
   > isn't any "although obviously" with a plumber.  I can take *absolutely
   > everything* I learn from the plumber and use it.  With copyrighted
   > software, I cannot.

   Right, but reading the software source is equivalent to letting you 
   sift through the plumber's brain. It's looking at the knowledge and 
   instructions which allow the agent (plumber or software package) to 
   perform its task. The plumber won't let you do that, so by your own 
   argument presumably there isn't a free market in plumbing.

Oh, come on.  If I "pick my plumber's brain", it takes her time.  Of
course, if I'm willing to pay her for the time, then so be it.  Every
plumber I've ever met has been more than willing to explain the
procedure used (I'm interested in such things) and would doubtless be
willing to play tiddlywinks for $40 an hour.  Most plumbers are
interested in plumbing, and are happy to talk about their profession
to interested parties, particularly if they are paid $40 an hour.

And, once I do this, my plumber has no control over what she told me.
I can distribute what I have learned in any way I see fit.

Now, when I pay a software company for the privilege of using their
software, I *don't* get to do any of those things.  And, even more, it
doesn't cost the software company *anything* for me to pore over their
code and figure it out, while it *does* cost my plumber something to
sit there and listen to dumb questions.

	-mib