The Free Ride

(Image Credit: Cornell University Library)

There is a common pervading plague of the mind loose in the world today. It is the general idea that you can contribute something valuable to society once, get rich off of it, and rake in the riches forever. The institutions of copyright and patent have become the vehicle that makes this dream possible. As is argued well here, these legalized suppressions of personal liberty and allowed monopoly are more harmful then they are worth. It is a selfish dream that counters progress and violates the rights of others to pick up the slack left by those currently enjoying their free ride.

There isn't just a set of laws that need to be reformed here, it's one of the many twisted states of mind that have somehow gripped some of us. Somehow people have been led to believe that they have various ways of getting a free ride and that it's a good thing. I'm thankful for the words imparted to students by the President of the United States a few weeks ago centered around: "The truth is, being successful is hard.". He goes on to deliver a little reality to counter the fantasies constantly portrayed to kids on television. A free ride sounds good on the surface, but it's one of the many illusions that fade away when you realize it's free as in free-loader, not free as in free beer.

I don't know how we got here, but we need to turn back. We need to keep in mind that the world isn't moved ahead by people who sit back collecting royalties, but by those who try to innovate every day; those people who are at all times contributing. And then ask ourselves what kind of people we want to be. I've always believed that the right thing usually isn't the easiest thing, and this is no exception. Riding a wave of single invention or hit song practically forever may be easy, but it isn't right. We're ignoring our shared purpose of life, we're stagnating the progress of science, and impeding our potential for the future.

The ridiculous news is constantly flowing. Simple people getting in trouble for doing innocuous things. Corporations extending their arms into our homes and telling us what we can and cannot do with our possessions. They need to know we're not interested in buying things that come with locks on them that only the vendor has the key to. They need to know we aren't interested in forcing the chains of physical property needlessly onto digital media. You should be able to copy your music and movies to as many devices as you want. You should be able to use the ideas of others to build on and take them even further. What is shared at all is shared with all, and that propels us forward. It is the fuel of the digital age, and allows people to do wonderful things.