Solution to RF/RAND?

• From: Karun Philip <karun@tranquilmoney.com>
• Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2002 13:57:36 -0500
• To: <www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org>
• Message-ID: <008501c1b3f7$23456910$0f1a10ac@school>

I just read a story on the RF/RAND argument. One solution is to make
royalties a percentage of added value. Thus, if the patent is used for no
revenues as in free software, there is no royalty. On the other hand, if a
downstream user starts making money on it, then a percentage of value added
must be paid to the patent holder. I discuss the logic of this in one
chapter of my book as well (link below).

This would also work in other patents such as drugs, where cheap generics
distribution in Africa does not mean someone can buy that and sell it at
market price in the US. Whenever the value is added, the patent owner gets
paid. Yet free distributors can continue to freely distribute.

Regards,

Karun.
--
Karun Philip
Author: "Zen and the Art of Funk Capitalism: A General Theory of
Fallibility"
Reviews at http://www.k-capital.com/HA.htm

Received on Tuesday, 12 February 2002 13:59:14 UTC