But don't worry, you have my permission to use it.

Just kidding.

Best,

Reg

: A conversation that was started elsewhere.
: http://www.kayakforum.com/cgi-bin/Building/index.cgi/noframes/read/174078

: It seems to be of such a great importance that I'd suggest it warrants a
: separate thread. It can be discussed in the context of kayak design but it
: applies to almost everything you touch every day.

: #1. "We all stand on shoulders of giants". So how much royalty the
: bungee jumping operator should pay to Isaac Newton? (architectural firm to
: Euclidus ... Nick Shade to Archimedes or John Winters...?) Archimedes is
: dead but John in good health (we all hope)

: #2. The "prior art" factor - different take on #1. If it has been
: known before, is it a ripoff? The Greeks made triremes with long slender
: hulls? Epic kayak makes boats with long, slender hulls. If I copy Epic
: kayaks, who am I ripping off? The Greeks?

: #3. Everybody is doing it. All my buddies at Lewis & Dope College are
: Bit-Torrenting mp3s, so it must be OK by popular consent? It is unlikely I
: will be caught so as long as I can invent my "excuse ideology"
: my conscience is clear.

: # 'Magnum Opus' : how much value have I added to this idea!?

: Did I copy the 20 centuries of Western Civilization, signed my name below and
: declared "It's MINE!" (Genoan thief planting a cross and
: repeating 'I discovered it') ?
: *OR*
: Did I spent years in the lab, tried a 100 different options before finding
: the one that works?
: *BUT*
: how does the vision of the New World, begging the King of Spain, outfitting 3
: ships and the courage to go over the edge of the world compares with years
: of long nights in the lab?

: Thomas Edison: you are the salt of the Earth.
: Bill Gates: you are replaceable but useful too, though in a different way.

: Ditto for the trivial universe of kayaking and people who care about it (us)