Collaboration Is The New CompetitionsteemCreated with Sketch.

in #economy5 years ago

Time, they are a-changin'.

Crypto-economics brings on new variables that people did not consider before.

Our present economic system pounds the idea that it is competition that spurs innovation. In the open source, decentralized world, it is collaboration that is the move important variable.

We live in a world where intellectual property is heavily protected. Patents and copyrights are filed and guarded with great care. We see thousands of lawsuits filed for patent infringement.

What is behind this? Money of course.


Source

This is how companies profit. They tie up the knowledge in a manner where only they can utilize it. We saw the absurdity of this system in the present coronavirus crisis. A company that has the patent on ventilators charges $10,000 apiece for them. In Italy, a doctor was able to 3D print the device for a few hundred dollars.

Of course, he was running the risk of being sued by the company for patent infringement. Does it matter that he was trying to save lives?

Not according to the law.

Here is an example of where collaboration is much better for humanity. If the plans were readily available, anyone could print out what was needed. There would be no shortage.

As our world shifts into the digital realm, we are seeing a greater use of open source. This will spur a new economy that is not based upon scarcity. When companies have to constantly innovate to keep making money, we see progress happening at a greater rate.

This is all part of the collapse of the present economic system. It is not really dependent upon the financial collapse although I am sure that feed into it.

Instead, we are seeing a better way of structuring things enter the picture. This is going to keep growing as technology advancements and people have more options.

Collaboration is the new competition.