On: Fab@Home: using fabbers - machines that can make almost anything, right on your desktop

[noonespecial]

So does this mean that the concept of a patent fails completely? You are allowed to make use of any patented technology for personal, non-commercial purposes. This machine, once fully mature, can conceivably make nearly anything. Will there be a napster for car parts?

I just love disruptive technology.

[gasull → noonespecial]

You are allowed to make use of any patented technology for personal, non-commercial purposes.

IANAL, but this is very surprising. Why then people don't make, say, a motorbike in a workshop instead of buying it?

[HeyLaughingBoy → gasull]

Because it would cost more.

Trivial example: let's say someone wanted a copy of Microsoft word. They could buy it for $300 (or whatever), or build it in a "workshop" along with 500 developers for $50M (or whatever it costs MS to build it)

Same deal with the motorcycle.

[eru → gasull]

Perhaps the benefits of division of labour outweight the inconvenience of paying for patents, or - say - taxes?

[gasull → eru]

Yes, but a workshop-cooperative could outweight both. If patents don't prevent this I'm surprised nobody is doing it already.

Maybe this is a start:

http://www.forbes.com/2008/08/13/diy-innovation-newton-tech-...