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eniwetok

(1,629 posts)

7. I think we also need to look at patent law...

Reply to ileus (Reply #5)

Mon Feb 20, 2017, 08:50 PM

Feb 2017

Patent law serves a useful purpose in encouraging innovation. But usually the best ideas from different research teams never make it into the same product... meaning all may be inherently inferior to the product that contains the best ideas from all design teams.

VHS vs Beta is a perfect non-medical example. One had better picture quality, the other longer run time. It cost more for the consumers to support the two incompatible format than one. But that's not how the game is played... until the DVD. To avoid another expensive format war the electronic industry pooled their best ideas into one format. Same happened with the DV digital video tape standard. As soon as there was a consumer format... Panasonic and Sony developed two incomparable pro variants.

If we want better products we have to tame this dysfunctional side of capitalism.

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Health Care Spending: Why Is America Soooooooo Stupid? [View all] eniwetok Feb 2017 OP

Fraud, greed and overpricing run rampant in our health care system Calculating Feb 2017 #1

That latest and greatest equipment saves lives. ileus Feb 2017 #5

How much more research could we afford.... once we get rid of innefficiency? eniwetok Feb 2017 #6

I think we also need to look at patent law... eniwetok Feb 2017 #7

advertising crazycatlady Feb 2017 #9

I think the marketing and advertising industry is killing us. Initech Feb 2017 #11

This Wounded Bear Feb 2017 #20

There was an article in the NYT about how US companies were developing propriatary hips and tools... eniwetok Feb 2017 #24

Yes, I agree with you there. Kimchijeon Feb 2017 #12

Because god forbid somebody get something that someone else doesn't think they deserve. RedWedge Feb 2017 #2

Thanks for the numbers Ezior Feb 2017 #3

Choice is often inefficient... eniwetok Feb 2017 #4

We are talking about people here and there lies the problem. NOBODY wants to pay for something they Jim Beard Feb 2017 #8

Mexico's per capita spending $956.2 eniwetok Feb 2017 #13

Profit, profit, profit, profit, and profit. Initech Feb 2017 #10

profit alone would not be an issue.... eniwetok Feb 2017 #17

profits of insurance/big-pharma companies DrDan Feb 2017 #14

When making the argument it is also important to mention the life expectancy of these nations Victor_c3 Feb 2017 #15

sure... and if we compare US vs Canada eniwetok Feb 2017 #16

speaking of life expectancy... check out this spreadsheet! eniwetok Feb 2017 #18

This meme probably explains a lot too Victor_c3 Feb 2017 #19

whew! I knew Carson was a crackpot... so it was wacky but not unbelievable. nt eniwetok Feb 2017 #23

This hardly something nobody knew about... Wounded Bear Feb 2017 #21

numbers are one thing... how to USE them is another. eniwetok Feb 2017 #22

We're not stupid: We're greedy. We refuse to make healthcare non-profit. lindysalsagal Feb 2017 #25

What part of "for profit" do you not understand? mountain grammy Feb 2017 #26