Techdirt Podcast Episode 36: In Defense Of Copying

from the ideas-and-execution dept

We live in a world that venerates "ideas" but ignores the fact that even the best idea is worthless if it's poorly executed. In turn, people who "copy" ideas are often demonized, even when it's their superior execution that is responsible for their success. But the truth is that copying is a critical part of innovation and progress, and the instinct to ignore or refute that idea has left us without many clear measurements of its impact — not to mention lots of bad policy, and a highly problematic "ownership culture" when it comes to ideas and creative output.

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Filed Under: copying, copyright, ideas, innovation, podcast


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  • identicon
    Beever, 5 Aug 2015 @ 6:55am

    Iteration

    You spoke a bit on this podcast about large companies iterating on independent or small time companies. As you were searching for a proper example, I couldn’t help but think apple music is a good example of this. They iterated on Spotify's model, succeeding where Spotify failed. (Taylor Swift Letter)

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Mike Masnick (profile), 6 Aug 2015 @ 7:13am

      Re: Iteration

      You spoke a bit on this podcast about large companies iterating on independent or small time companies. As you were searching for a proper example, I couldn’t help but think apple music is a good example of this. They iterated on Spotify's model, succeeding where Spotify failed. (Taylor Swift Letter)

      Have they succeeded? Just this morning I saw someone point out that Spotify has more *paying* members (20 million) than Apple Music has trying its service out for free (11 million). So I'm not sure the jury has come to a verdict on that one just yet...

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    CrushU (profile), 5 Aug 2015 @ 11:28am

    Counterpoint?

    Have you considered the argument that the reason the 'top 10 stolen ideas' is so mediocre, is because of strong IP laws, punishing attempted stealers?

    (I don't buy it myself, but it would be the first thing a devil's advocate would bring up.)

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Mike Masnick (profile), 6 Aug 2015 @ 7:14am

      Re: Counterpoint?

      Have you considered the argument that the reason the 'top 10 stolen ideas' is so mediocre, is because of strong IP laws, punishing attempted stealers?

      That's certainly a possibility... but I don't buy it. At the very least there would be some lawsuits of people who tried and failed...

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Michael Ho (profile), 14 Aug 2015 @ 7:43am

    Just remembered this example: Rocket Internet.
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_Internet

    It isn't exactly a household name, but it seems to be making money. Is it innovative or just a copycat incubator?

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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