I agree. Software should be in the same realm as patents. You have to disclose how they work (source code) and then the government grants you exclusive rights to sell that for the next XX years.

Except the state can forbid you from leaving (using force) and/or charge a hefty fine for doing so. The whole libertarian viewpoint is about voluntary transactions. The whole point of the state is to use force to perform transactions. A company should be free to enact these policies and workers should be free to quit and consumers should be free to boycott. If you don't like the way a company treats employees, then don't work there and don't buy their stuff. The problem solves itself pretty quickly.

The problem with people who hate libertarians is they assume everyone is as lazy as they are. Gee, to solve this problem I might have to change my lifestyle... Why can't the government just force the change and then I can just sit here and bitch on Slashdot.

Well how is that any different in reasoning from what the OP was saying? If everyone goes to solar power, there will still need to be a power grid for certain events and failures... Everyone will need to take power from the grid at some point so the government will feel justified in taxing you to maintain it. At some point everyone will need food, does that justify taxing people for food insurance?

Isn't that the reason Obamacare was considered Constitutional? Because they taxed you for not using healthcare?