390 - So — apparently — I’m a communist

No, I’d say that of the world’s economies, there’s more that believe in intellectual property today than ever. There are fewer communists in the world today than there were. There are some new modern-day sort of communists who want to get rid of the incentive for musicians and moviemakers and software makers under various guises. They don’t think that those incentives should exist.

— Bill Gates via C|Net.

Communists?! Since when have communists had anything to do with IP? Does Bill really have much idea what he is saying here?

Equating those who believe the current IP system to be flawed with communists is, to say the least, very insulting. To say in the same breath that these people believe that musicians, movie makers and software developers should be not be rewarded for their efforts is more insulting still. Could he make himself look more idiotic?

With a leader who believes this kind of thing — and is willing to say it in a public forum — it’s not particularly surprising that many people have a dislike for them.

MS make good software: they have some fantastic coders, great researchers and these people make great software. It’s just that the policy given from above seems to be thought up by people with a somewhat… strange view of reality. It’s like America: there are a lot of amazing people there, but the leadership is completely wacko.

Update: More intelligent people than I talk about it.

Update 2: There’s an article in the Guardian about it.