Kappa. We all got carried away and distracted from the initial question. The important thing is that when you share your meal, a part of it is gone. You can even leave hungry... However if you share the recipe for that meal, you lose nothing... Actually, yes, the recipe becomes more known and thus it becomes more valuable... you are gaining something.
Alpha. One can say so.
Kappa. One can say so, and one will be right. And this is important for our conversation, because this is how a meal and its recipe drastically differ in nature. The meal gets consumed and disappears, the recipe gains value every time it is shared. It gains even more value every time someone cooks and eats that meal.
Alpha. OK, why would they say that it is stealing?
Beta. Who says? About what?
Alpha. Say, you developed a unique recipe and don't want to share it, and someone learns it, and makes use of it - it is stealing.
Beta. I wonder, why? I am perfectly comfortable with the notion that sharing of a recipe adds value to it. Should adding value be called stealing under any circumstances?
Alpha. Suppose I built a business upon it! Then you come, and learn the recipe somehow, and start a similar business. You will get the money that I was supposed to get. Isn't that stealing?
Delta. Oh, yes. Beta opens another restaurant to use your recipe and makes you more known. He actually advertises for you, but you put no penny in this. Why don't we consider this stealing?
Alpha. Hasn't he been advertised by my efforts in this case?
Gamma. Yes, but this is not quite the same. He has to tell who he learned it from. You will always be the person who introduced the recipe. This pays... You can always charge more than others in the same business.
Alpha. Ah, and he will charge less and steal my customers!
Beta. Are you listening? It is not me who charges less, it is you who charges more!
Alpha. Does anyone see the difference here?
Beta. Of course, there is no logical difference! There is no need to argue about labels and metaphors either! Just follow the money you are getting! If I make a product or service, that is based on your recipe, to be more known, I serve you! Moreover, if I make you more known as the introducer of that wonderful product or service, I advertise you and your business! You get more customers that are willing to pay more! And you call this stealing?
Alpha. But you get money also! Isn't that mine?
Beta. I do business, but the money is yours?
Alpha. Of course! The idea is mine, thus money derived from this idea belongs to me!
Gamma. You can share it. A portion of it will be attributed to the idea, called royalties, and all that remains belongs to the business.
Alpha. That's what I meant.
Beta. How about those revenues derived by Alpha from my work? He clearly gets them. Shouldn't he share?
Delta. How on Earth can we measure all these mutual dependencies?
Gamma. Listen - listen! I got another question!
Alpha. Hold it! I need to argue what Beta said!
Teacher. Go ahead.
Gamma. Who?
Alpha. All right, you go.
Gamma. Thanks... But I lost it.
Alpha. Are you sure?
Gamma. I am, go ahead.
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