C of L49...American responsibility or gutlessness?

[kelber at mindspring.com]

Is it about wanting to profit from one's own inventions, or not wanting corporations to profiteer off them?  Koteks (his name itself a brand name of a product designed by unsung inventors) has an anti-corporate tone, but it's hard to tell whether it's the money or the recognition (with its flipside, blame) that he wants.  Calls to mind the story about the Soviet inventor of Tetris, posted earlier today.  He was resigned to the Soviet government owning the patent to his game because he knew that was his only chance of getting it out there.  It wasn't about profits, it was about sharing his creation.  With the SOviet government out of the picture, though, he wants his share of the profits.

Laura

-----Original Message-----
>From: Mark Kohut <markekohut at yahoo.com>
>Sent: Jun 3, 2009 4:16 PM
>To: pynchon -l <pynchon-l at waste.org>
>Subject: C of L49...American responsibility or gutlessness?
>
>
>Koteks wants American ingenuity and individuality recognized---again. Like Nefastis, "who still invents."  Teamwork--that corporate togetherness word. "it is a way to avoid responsibility", says Koteks. 'symbol of the 'gutlessness of the whole society".
>
>Pure overarching vision speculation: TRP idealizes the America of Jefferson and just-post?.......Around the time of Mason & Dixon.....yeoman-farmers, small community businesses, craftsmen, etc.....when the society supported individuality and ingenuity (and helping others via barn-raising, etc. was a natural part of the community). Before the "Little Rebellion Between the States".....before the Industrial "revolution" and what it   did to workers.....Agree? Not?
>
>p. 88 "that the underground of the unbalanced"--Fallopian---are creative types. More of what the Tristero is/are.
>
>
>
>      
>