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I’ve been thinking about what to say about the public posting of proprietary intellectual property. Some people have gotten really excited about seeing things in various stages of development that were previously seen only by their creators. 1/
I’ve been thinking about what to say about the public posting of proprietary intellectual property. Some people have gotten really excited about seeing things in various stages of development that were previously seen only by their creators. 1/
I can understand the feeling, but I can’t condone the theft and dissemination of trade secrets. It’s criminal corporate espionage, full-stop. 2/
This kind of white-collar crime can be hard to appreciate given that no one was physically hurt, but there are still grave consequences. Those responsible face prosecution, restitution, and imprisonment. 3/
Corporate security measures and surveillance will likely be increased industry-wide, adding more pressure on employees and making hard jobs even more difficult. The exposure of code and assets makes it easier for competitors to appropriate techniques. 4/
Revealing rough drafts, works in progress, and private communications can embarrass their authors, damage their reputations, and even set back their careers. 5/
Exchanging such leaked data might seem sensible in the name of preservation, but it’s just dealing in the dissemination of stolen content. It has never been approved for release or sale by its creators. 6/
As long as creators retain control over the distribution of their works, they can exercise quality control, leverage in marketing, and monetization. Leaking robs creators of all these aspects of making the most of their R&D investments in a manner of their own choosing. 7/
Ultimately, stealing proprietary information is an invasion of privacy and an ultimate form of disrespect. If you care about content creators, you will respect their processes and let them go about the act of creation in private. 8/
There, they can come up with the best possible experiences that will surprise and delight audiences. If they choose to offer behind-the-scenes glimpses, great. Just don’t barge in backstage uninvited. 9/9
