> The reason we have copyright and a patent system is very simple: they're optimizations to make society better at producing more new stuff. Any optimization w

> The reason we have copyright and a patent system is very simple: they're optimizations to make society better at producing more new stuff. Any optimization will sacrifice one thing for another. Perhaps a better approach would be to revisit our assumptions. Why do we assume that efficiency should trump freedom? Why do we assume that everyone will agree with the efficiency-is-king way of thinking? Why do we not consider the effects of our philosophy? We have smartphones and laptops now, but by forcing everyone to specialise they only gain happiness in the 'ignorance is bliss' understanding of it.