MIT’s Technology Review site has two interesting entries on the subject of intellectual property. Because this blog covers an intersection of sorts between virtual and real “product” from a designer’s point of view, the topic is – as stated in previous posts – of interest to me. Here’s the links to the two positions:

“The People Own Ideas!” – Lawrence Lessig

“The Creators Own Ideas” – Richard A. Epstein

I’ll be honest, while I appreciate Lessig’s point of view, I think Epstein is more on the mark. Thing is, free tools and cultural freedom have little to do with most of what I come across on a regular basis. Empirically speaking, there’s not really all that much “remixing” as far as I can see in the realm of 3D content; mostly I see accurate, unremixed CG versions of movie characters, props, actors and real world objects/products posted.

For example, take a look at this site, which was front page news on CGChannel recently. For all I know these CG models were created with the open source Blender 3D application, and that’d be wonderful since I very much support Blender. But I bet they didn’t use it. More important is what this person or persons is selling: virtual replicas of designs created – and in all likelihood patented – by automobile manufacturers (Mercedes, Volvo, Audi, etc). Is that wrong? Well, the people at that website (probably) didn’t design these things, yet they’re obviously hoping to make a profit by selling these designs. Shouldn’t they be creating their own designs and selling those instead? Isn’t that the kind of freedom that’s behind much of the open source movement? empowering people to do their own thing? I’d venture a significant number of people doing 3D haven’t read the memo.

Now let’s take this further: if there’s nothing wrong with this practice, why not just scan the real parts instead of laboring in some complex 3D application to recreate them? If profit is the motive – and apparently profit is involved here – then streamlining the process makes sense. Okay, then, so when people can fab their own products, you could have piracy beyond software, movies and music. People could pirate pretty much anything!

Oh wait. We already have some of that:”Yes, it’s a copy of the Honda…”[edit: the link keeps reverting to a registration site, so Google china automobile piracy and select “Piracy on parade at China car show” which is the third or fourth link down](and here’s some more here, and here).

As someone who makes a living as a designer, I can tell you that for those individuals interested in designing, fabricating and selling their own products outside of the corporate cubicle, there is a very real concern that their efforts will not be adequately rewarded. Consequently, since the effort to bring a product to market is substantial, many don’t bother. And that’s bad for everyone.

There’s an old saying that comes to mind when I read/hear people defending piracy and/or preaching the virtues of free everything : “Be careful what you wish for… you may get it.” And btw, that site I linked to above is registered to an individual in South America. Wonder if he attended that rally in Porto Alegre?

(edit: happened across some additional discussion with some interesting links on another blog here)