Guardian Unlimited | Owning ideas

This is a good article explaining Intelllectual Property, what it is and the pros and cons.

From the Guardian:
"The difference between ideas and things is obvious as soon as someone hits you over the head with an idea - so obvious that until recently it was entirely clear to the law. Things could have owners and ideas could not. Yet this simple distinction is being changed all around us. Ideas are increasingly treated as property - as things that have owners who may decide who gets to use them and on what terms."

Guardian Unlimited | Guardian daily comment | Owning ideas

Slashdot writes about the article:
"An excellent article giving lay readers an overview of some of the problems being caused by the concept of 'intellectual property', including references to stories familiar to Slashdot readers, such as DVD Jon, the Sony rootkit, Amazon and Google business patents."

Slashdot | The Guardian On Intellectual Property