Nanotech's effect on Intellectual Property

from the creators-create-cause-that's-what-they-do dept.
Dan Gillmor, columnist for the San Jose Mercury News and Foresight Senior Associate, looks at what happens to intellectual property when nanotechnology arrives. Foresight board member Glenn Reynolds is quoted: "When jets are so cheap I can make one in my back yard, it may be the case that society is so wealthy we'll do airplanes for free anyway." Foresight chairman Eric Drexler wonders "if I see something, can I make a copy?" Dan clarifies "In other words, will he be allowed to remember what he saw?" Dan concludes "Maybe, in 100 years, spaceship design will be an open-source project." Hmm, we could start that project right now…