The purpose of this thread is to discuss non-statist alternatives to the preventing the copying of stuff.
Software as a Service (SaaS) currently seems to be the most important alternative. No longer do MS and other software companies need to worry about people copying floppies, CDs, etc. and then distributing the software to to the non-licensed. Instead, the software can be placed in the cloud and data can then be sent to the user. With SaaS, I don't see how the need for software IP can be defended.
To paraphrase Marc Faber: We're all doomed, but that doesn't mean that we can't make money in the process. Rabbi Lapin: "Let's make bricks!" Stephan Kinsella: "Say you and I both want to make a German chocolate cake."
Another alternative is "the mall as the trademark office." Essentially, the mall--as owner and, thus, decider of what sellers can operate in the mall--can decide to only allow official Gucci-branded items to be sold in the mall. If another seller comes along to sell Gucci-branded items, then the mall would simply deny to them the permission to do so. This would be no different than a mall determining the quantity of restaurants, shoe shops, jewelry shops, etc. allowed in the mall.
@Dan Muffinburg
But if John buys the software and download it, he then could upload it in some website, right?
The mall owner sure have this right, but people could sell Gucci fakes outside the mall. Even right beside it.
Michel: The mall owner sure have this right, but people could sell Gucci fakes outside the mall. Even right beside it.
There is a section in this article that deals with IP and some alternatives.