<p>Ron, you just jabbed a nerve of mine.</p>
<p>In the early 80's the rules changed and recipients of federal research grants were allowed to be sole owners of any ideas, patents, copyrights, etc of the public funded work they did.<br>
It has been a double edged sword that no longer provides public benefit. The research output DOES benefit but the financial incentives muddy the waters on the quality or scale of the benefits.<br>
Classic example: the medical boot worn after foot injury or repair is 3 parts - the supporting molded plastic, the velcro buckles and the sole. Each part was awarded patents and the ensemble got its own patent stack. <br>
The boot costs less than $5 to make but the licenses run the cost to over $30. Now the boot license kicks in and runs it to $55+. Then the usual supply chain markups occur. So we pay $90 for a medical device that used to be 2 sticks, an old shoe and some tape or an old belt. Does the the new device work better than the old one? That was not studied. What was studied was a comparison of no support vs molded plastic support on recovery effectiveness post injury.<br>
The same process now drives the research university expansion and much privately-owned works as well. <br>
It is a two edged sword.</p>
<p>I would like to be paid a bit every time someone uses a system or process I set up. Residuals on geek work would be stellar! But I, like most people, get paid once for my effort unlike writers, actors, inventors, and the like.<br>
The world has changed and holding on to stuff screaming "mine, mine, mine!" is no longer a viable transaction model. I hope someone figures out a new one soon.</p>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Oct 3, 2011 9:20 PM, "Ron Frazier" <<a href="mailto:atllinuxenthinfo@c3energy.com">atllinuxenthinfo@c3energy.com</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution">> I only looked briefly at the article, but it sounds pretty disgusting <br>
> that IEEE should refuse to publish public domain papers. I used to be a <br>> member of IEEE, but never published with them. I don't understand all <br>> the legal odds and ends. However, as a consumer and amateur researcher, <br>
> I've long felt that the public needs more access to academic papers and <br>> such. I can't tell you how many times I've been doing research on a <br>> topic of interest, like alternate energy, and have come across some <br>
> great paper on the topic, only to find it's in an academic database and <br>> they want $40 - $100 for it. Usually, it's not worth the price to me <br>> and I just go elsewhere. I think more "open source" academic papers <br>
> would be great.<br>> <br>> And another thing, our tax dollars fund research at our national labs, <br>> right? So, if they've come up with a great way to harness some energy <br>> source (just for example), and I want to use the technology in a <br>
> business, why do they (the national lab) have a patent on it and why do <br>> I have to pay a license fee to use what my tax dollars already funded?<br>> <br>> Sincerely,<br>> <br>> Ron<br>> <br>> On 9/30/2011 9:04 PM, Michael H. Warfield wrote:<br>
>> Ok...<br>>><br>>> A LOT of you on this list know me an many of those know my option of Dan<br>>> Berstein. To say we're not generally on the same page would send out<br>>> howls of laughter in some quarters and shivers of fear in others.<br>
>><br>>> All that being said... If what he is accusing the IEEE of is even<br>>> remotely true, we should sit up and take notice. If you are an IEEE<br>>> member of Computer Society member, you may wish to let them know just<br>
>> how you feel about this.<br>>><br>>> <a href="http://cr.yp.to/writing/ieee.html">http://cr.yp.to/writing/ieee.html</a><br>>><br>>> I take what ever Dan says with a really big grain of salt but this<br>
>> time... I just don't know. I may have to agree with him...<br>>><br>>> Regards,<br>>> Mike<br>>> <br>>><br>>><br>>> _______________________________________________<br>
>> Ale mailing list<br>>> <a href="mailto:Ale@ale.org">Ale@ale.org</a><br>>> <a href="http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale">http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale</a><br>>> See JOBS, ANNOUNCE and SCHOOLS lists at<br>
>> <a href="http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo">http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo</a><br>>> <br>> <br>> -- <br>> <br>> (PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to<br>
> call on the phone. I get about 300 emails per day from alternate energy<br>> mailing lists and such. I don't always see new messages very quickly.)<br>> <br>> Ron Frazier<br>> <br>> 770-205-9422 (O) Leave a message.<br>
> linuxdude AT <a href="http://c3energy.com">c3energy.com</a><br>> <br></div>