Alpha: One can say so.
Kappa: One can say so, and one will be right. And this is important
for our conversation because this is how a meal and its recipe
drastically differ in nature. The meal gets consumed and
disappears. The recipe gains value every time it is shared. It gains
even more value every time someone cooks and eats that meal.
Alpha: OK, why would they say that it is stealing?
Beta: Who says? About what?
Alpha: Say, you developed a unique recipe and don’t want to share it
and someone learns it and makes use of it. That’s stealing.
Beta: I wonder why? I am perfectly comfortable with the notion that
sharing a recipe adds value to it. Should adding value be called
stealing under any circumstances?
Alpha: Suppose I built a business upon it! Then you come and learn
the recipe somehow and start a similar business. You will get the
money that I was supposed to get. Isn’t that stealing?
Delta: Oh yes. Beta opens another restaurant to use your recipe and
makes you more known. He actually advertises for you, but you
put no penny in this. Why don’t we consider this stealing?
Alpha: Don’t my efforts provide advertising for him in this case?
Gamma: Yes, but it is not quite the same. He has to reveal whom he
learned it from. You will always be the person who introduced the
recipe. This pays. . . . You can always charge more than others in
the same business.
Alpha: Ah, and he will charge less and steal my customers!
Beta: Are you listening? It is not me who charges less, it is you who
charges more!
Alpha: Does anyone see the difference here?
Beta: Of course, there is no logical difference! There is no need to
argue about labels and metaphors either! Just follow the money!
If I make your recipe well known while I produce something
based on it, I help you out! I make you more well known as the
originator of that wonderful product and advertise you and your
business! You get more customers who are willing to pay more!
And you call this stealing?
Alpha: But you get money also! Isn’t that mine?
Beta: I do business, but the money is yours?
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