I believe in the freedom of information, free as in money, and free as in freedom. That this is a fundamental requirement for empowerment.
I understand that ideas are not copyrightable. I expect that you understand this too. I expect that we can both regard all ideas discussed to be of Public Domain, as they are.
I understand that the implementation of ideas is copyrightable. I understand that the underlying ideas of an implementation are not copyrightable. I understand that fair use applies to implementation of ideas. I understand implementations can be licensed to relinquish specified restrictions that copyright holds over implementations. I expect that you understand this too. I expect that all works I create to be able to be licensed permissively. I expect that I will be able to use the ideas from all implementations that I am exposed to. I expect that we are all able to re-use each others implementations where fair use and license permissions apply.
I understand that privacy does not impose any limitations on the information at hand, but rather only imposes limitations of the information about the individuals behind the information at hand. I understand that patents and copyright are tools used to protect implementations of ideas. I understand that NDAs and Confidentiality Agreements are tools used to thwart the sharing of ideas. I expect that you understand this too. I will respect your privacy, and will request your approval before I reveal your identity. I expect you to do the same. I will respect your ownership of copyright and obey to the terms inforceable by law. I expect you to do the same. I will not sign NDAs and Confidentiality Agreements, nor will I look at anything labelled Confidential. I expect you to not tell me anything Confidential, especially without my prior agreement that I will respect (and am able to respect) such confidential information beforehand.
@balupton
Yes! Because it is just how things should work. The simple idea of restricting ideas should be patented and copyrighted by an intelligent individual so nobody can use it. ;)
The idea of copyright and patents were only created to give the original author time to gain some profit from his invention or creation and it was for a short amount of time, only enough for him to make some profit off of it.
Nowadays we use them as a way to make our idea the one and only. Which is just plain wrong.