Patents vs copyright

When a drug is patented, the patent last 20 years. It often takes 8-10 years of testing before a drug can be sold to the public. That means the drug company has only 10-12 years to recoup the costs. After which, anyone can make the drug and sell it.

Try that in any other creative endeavor and it gets labeled "outright theft of intellectual property."

Recently some Thai animators, created a nearly identical replica of Beauty and the Beast. Oh the horrors!!! Disney's patent on Beauty and the Beast would have run out long ago.[1] This knockoff would be totally legal if it were a drug. If so, you could buy it at Walmart for $4.

[1] yes, it was released in 1991, but I'm sure the testing and development started years before.

10-10-10

10-10-10

Anyone know the importance of this?

Is anyone a fan of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy?

Can anyone make the connection?

The first person to do so wins a prize.[1]

non-nerds need not napply.[2]

[1] I'll email you an emoticon.

[2] alliteration enhanced.