Germany ignored patents and copyrights in the 19th century, and their economy rapidly industrialized.
The free software movement has shown that freely distributing IP is quite workable.
The free software movement has shown that freely distributing IP is quite workable.
It’s very successful in areas where software is a “cost center” (i.e. allows companies to use it reduce the cost of developing (semi)proprietary software)and not the end product. Everywhere else it’s mixed or a failure (e.g. video games).