Re:Patent, schmatent -- supply and demand wins (Score 1)

Interesting point Dada but naive, I'm afraid. IP laws are needed to prevent the chilling effect stealing ideas has on would be inventors. Established economies have known this for centuries. If we were to abolish all IP laws tomorrow, we'd experience a freefall in product creativity as the profit motive would be severely curtailed. There is a reason countries with enforced IP laws consistently lead in innovation. I'm not taking about building on ideas either. I'm talking about straight reverse engineering and reproduction.