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A comment on Programmers generate every possible melody in MIDI to prevent lawsuits. Parent comment

Re:Programmers generate every possible melody in MIDI to pre... by Retric on Friday February 28, 2020 @02:34PM (#22445611)
If it costs 350 million people 1 cent to hand me 1 million dollars they don’t notice, yet that’s a net loss. Critically, even when you include those who benefit it’s still a loss.
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Re:Programmers generate every possible melody in MIDI to pre... by shadowgovt on Friday February 28, 2020 @05:43PM (#22447098)
Only if you consider money completely fungible and use money as your utility function for determining loss here.

You haven't diminished the ability for 350 million people to do things, practically, by shaving 1 cent off of them. But adding the ability a million dollars provides one individual to do something cool with 1 million they couldn't do before has increased the overall capabilities of everyone.

In essence, you've just described Kickstarter's business model.

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Re:Programmers generate every possible melody in MIDI to pre... by Retric on Friday February 28, 2020 @06:31PM (#22447408)
You’re forgetting just how many organizations all do this, it’s adding up to a significant chunk of global GDP. It’s got real long term consequences.

Basically, even if individual bacteria are unnoticed enough of them can kill you.

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