If R that Mr. A has is Resources for Mr. B, then R is a resource for Mr. A if Mr. A can understand it and transfer R.

Otherwise, Mr. A exists as nature and Mr. B collects natural resources from it.

concrete example

  • Mr. A makes a picture and program R
  • Suppose R is valuable to Mr. B.
  • If Mr. A understands that R is valuable to Mr. B and controls the distribution of R, then R is a resource because he can act to get what he wants in exchange for giving R to Mr. B.
  • On the other hand, if you release R, for example, under a license that anyone can take for free, you can’t “control distribution”.
    • Therefore, B takes R on its own, and there is no binding obligation to demand a return for it.
      • At least in the eyes of the law and capitalist ethics.

I think we’ve talked about humans and natural resources before.

relevance - open source (software, etc.) - Ignorance is a resource


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