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 use his invention. The many uses and attributions increase the value of the invention and publicity of the inventor. At the same time, all businesses have equal access to the invention and thus have equal opportunity to compete. . . . Did I get it right?

Against Attribution Teacher: I think so. Now I believe we can summarize the arguments against both positions and continue from there.

Kappa: To continue where?

Teacher: Ah! The best question! We must return to our main issue!

Beta: A summary is necessary anyway.

Teacher: OK. Anyone?

Alpha: My objections to Beta’s ideas stand.

Teacher: Please, Alpha.

Alpha: First, as a creator, I would not like to wait and see how other people make money from my creative work and then pat me on the back in gratitude, because that reference of yours is nothing more than a pat on the back. It costs them nothing, while they earn money and I don’t. I would not divulge any other invention in that case. Second, nobody can provide all the zillions of references anyway. So, some royalties paid for limited time would be a fair working solution to all our problems. Thank you.

Against Royalties Teacher: Thank you, Alpha. Any argument against royalties?

Alpha: Summary of argument.

Teacher: Right; we want a summary of what was argued against royalties so far.

Kappa: May I?

Teacher: You bet.

Kappa: First, if there are two businesses based on the same idea, they compete using normal business means, such as marketing, productivity, and so forth. Now if we, for some reason, take money from one and give it to the other, the second would have an advantage. Competition would be hampered, and so forth. I