3. Please Start By Reading This - Then Pass It On
- "The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the
man who will win." Roger Bannister
- "The spirit, the will to win, and the will to excel are the things that
endure. These qualities are so much important than the events that occur."
Vince Lombardi
- "Success in our calling is the result of a person's love of and belief in the
work he has undertaken. Earnest and conscientious labor often
accomplishes more in the end than the brilliant genius." Anonymous
- "Food offered without affection is like food offered to the dead." Hindu
Proverb
- "What you have to do and the way have to do it incredibly simple.
Whether you are willing to do it, that's another matter." Peter F. Drucker
- The best motivation is self motivation. The guy says, "I wish someone
would come by and turn me on." What if they don't show up? You've got to
have a better plan for your life. Jim Rohn
- "How does one measure time? No, not in days, months, or years. It is
measured by the most precious of all things: Love. Without which all
beings and things whether brave and/or beautiful would perish." Irish
Blesshin
4. Table of Contents:
Insurance
- New Driver Car Insurance......................................................................................5
- Affordable Individual Health Insurance..................................................................5
- Accident Insurance Claim Personal Injury Insights................................................6
- How To Save Money On Your Pet Insurance..........................................................8
- Finding the Cheapest Home Insurance Quote.........................................................8
- Different Types of Boat Insurance...........................................................................9
Legal
- Find a Good Family Law Attorney..........................................................................10
- Women, Divorce and the Law..................................................................................11
- Employment Law: Attendance Rewards.................................................................12
- Guidelines to Pre-paid Legal...................................................................................13
- The Demise of Intellectual Property........................................................................13
- The Law of Attraction In A Legal Aspect................................................................18
5. Insurance
New Driver Car Insurance
Car insurance companies view new drivers as inexperienced
drivers; therefore, new drivers usually have higher car insurance
premiums than older drivers, who are considered more
experienced drivers.
Even though new drivers are inexperienced drivers, their car
insurance premiums do not have to break the bank.
There are ways to save money, especially if the new driver has a
family member with an existing car insurance policy.
Take the tips into consideration to save money with your new
driver:
Ask about “multi” discounts. Some car insurance companies offer discounts to policyholders who
have multi-car policies, i.e., those that have more than one car on their car insurance policies. At the
same time, some insurance companies will offer multi-line discounts, which means if the policyholder
has both a car insurance policy and a home owner or life insurance policy with the same insurance
company, they have “multiple lines” of insurance and may qualify for a discount. If the new driver is
going to be on your, or another person’s, existing car insurance policy, the policyholder may be eligible
for a multi-driver discount.
Make sure he or she enrolls in a driver education course. Some high schools provide driver
education courses. If your teen’s high school does not, enroll him or her in a driver education course
offered by a private company. The driver education courses offered by private companies are also
available for older drivers; therefore, they could help the new, older driver save money on car
insurance.
If your new driver is a teen, ask the car insurance company about Good Student discounts. Some car
insurance companies offer discounts to teens who make good grades in school. It is a win/win
situation!
Military discounts are offered in some parts of America to active and even retired military personnel.
If your new driver fits either one of those descriptions, ask the car insurance company about such a
discount.
Affordable Individual Health Insurance
The need for affordable individual health insurance is becoming more
prevalent because of the rising numbers of self-employed.
Entrepreneurs are changing the landscape. Home-based businesses
are growing at a phenomenal pace.
The enormous growth of small business has generated a greater
demand for individual health insurance. This is a first time
experience for many of these new start-ups. Group health insurance is
6. provided by the employer. The employee that is enrolled in the company group health insurance plan
rarely examines the coverage or the cost. This changes dramatically when they are forced into
purchasing their own individual plan.
COBRA (the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985) guarantees a continuance of
coverage when you leave your employer. This coverage is made available for 18 months after you
leave. You have a 60-day window after termination of employment to shop for your own individual
health plan.
This window of time is critical to the insurance shopping process. If you have any thought of leaving
your employer then it is imperative that you investigate the availability of individual health insurance.
Individual health insurance is medically underwritten. That means that the insurance company will
gather all applicable medical information on you and or your family to determine if they can offer you
an individual plan. Pre-existing conditions are often eliminated and in some instances coverage can be
denied.
Things to consider:
1. Health – Do not presume that you or any of your family is Insurable. There may be certain pre-
existing conditions that are covered by some companies and excluded by others.
2. Self-Insuring – The higher deductible that you elect will decrease your premium dramatically.
This is called self-insuring. Some companies have deductibles that go as high as thousands.
3. Insurance Company – There are many reliable insurance companies in the health insurance
industry use their quotes to compare coverage.
We have done the research so you don't have to. Please see our recommended source for insurance
quotes online.
Accident Insurance Claim Personal Injury Insights
Besides botching up your body (and sometimes your love life)
what else does the injury mean to you?
It means a ton of financial expense’s, including repairing your
motor vehicle, lost wages, a shock to your life style, a tremendous
inconvenience and short or long periods of pain and discomfort - -
all of it a direct result of your injuries.
Plus, there's a long list of possible medical expenses. For example:
Doctor/Chiropractor, Prescription Drug Bills, Ambulance,
Emergency Room Care, Hospital or Clinic, Specialist and/or
Dentist, Laboratory Fees and Services, Diagnostic Tests, X-Rays and (CT) Scan, Prosthetic Appliances
or Surgical Apparatus (Canes & Crutches), Physical Therapy, Registered and/or Practical Nurse Fees,
Gauze and Tape, Ace Bandages all of which the insurance company must pay whether they like it or
not!
Also, Creams, Lotions, Ointments, Balms and Salves, etc. (Should the lady in your life apply any of
these to your aching body I'm sorry to tell you this but her labor is not an expense you can claim).
YOU MUST BE COMPENSATED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR ALL OF THE ABOVE:
It's true that a very small percentage of motor vehicle accidents cause big, serious injuries but that
doesn't mean you shouldn't be paid big, serious bucks!
7. EXAMINATION BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY DOCTOR: Claims Adjuster Henry Hard-Nose
of Rock Solid Insurance will usually try to pull a fast one insisting he wants you to be examined by the
physician of his choice, the local medical con-man of all time, Dr. Nuttin' Wrong. Beware of such a
request. Doctors assigned by the insurance company are notorious for stating, in the report they're paid
big bucks to execute, "There is no objective basis", for your complaints.
You don't have to agree to be examined by Dr. Nuttin' Wrong. Rock Solid Insurance cannot insist that
you submit to their doctor for an examination unless your claim actually becomes a formal court case.
So, hold your ground until your attending physician, Ole “Doc” Comfort, has released you. After that
it's okay to agree to be examined because by then it's too late! So much time will have passed it will be
impossible for Dr. Wrong to minimize the pain, discomfort and suffering your injury has caused you.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT YOUR MEDICAL BILLS IF YOU MAKE THE MISTAKE OF OBTAINING
LEGAL HELP FROM ATTORNEY I. M. SHARP: Should yours be a case in which there's no question
that you're not at fault, make it clear to the Legal Beagle you've hired, I. M. Sharp, Esquire, that you
expect his Contingency Fee will not apply to that which he recovers for the damage to your car, your
medical bills, and/or your payment for lost wages.
You tell him these are damages you would have collected ANYWAY - - whether he was handling the
case for you or if you settled it yourself. Don't you dare be foolish enough to hand him a huge
percentage of that which you were going to be paid by the insurance company, whether Attorney Sharp
handled the case or not. To do so is the height of financial stupidity!
YOUR BODILY INJURIES: It's a proven fact that the vast majority of motor vehicle accidents cause
minor injuries. While bodily injury pain can be specifically measured the limits of what you can endure
cannot. Each of us has a different "pain threshold" - - that is, the point at which we begin to feel
physical pain. The amount and quality of pain you feel is not strictly dependent on the bodily injury
inflicted. It has a lot to do with your previous experience, how well you remember it, and your ability
to understand what caused you that pain, and its consequences, the last time around.
Stress and strain magnify physical pain plus personal anxiety will greatly increase it. There are also
emotional reactions to the injury. A bodily injury is bound to cause some degree of mental distress. The
duration and severity that depends on a number of factors: The type of individual you are, the ultimate
consequences of the injury you sustained, and the life stresses or strengths you're experiencing at the
time of your injury. (If you can't stand her and she takes a powder you’ll handle your pain better if you
really dig the chick and she dumped you for your best friend)!
When it comes to muscle injuries one thing you must keep in mind is that when one part of the body
demands rest (by sending out a pain signal) and - - without your even realizing it - - you help your body
by placing a new burden on other muscles. It gets complicated because although those muscles may not
have been directly injured in the accident, they can still get buggered up and produce a lot of pain
because of their new role.
DISCLAIMER: The only purpose of this claim tip is to help people understand the motor vehicle motor
vehicle accident claim process. Neither Dan Baldyga nor (name the magazine/newsletter and/or web
site) make any guarantee of any kind whatsoever; NOR do they purport to engage in rendering any
professional or legal service, NOR to substitute for a lawyer, an insurance adjuster, or claims
consultant, or the like. Where such professional help is desired it is the INDIVIDUAL’S
RESPONSIBILITY to obtain said services.
8. How To Save Money On Your Pet Insurance
Here in Britain we are a nation of pet lovers and treat our pets like
we do ourselves and our children, this includes giving them the
best food, treats, toys, care and of course the best in health care by
way of a vet.
However when it comes to our pets they can also cost us a
fortune, especially if you should have to visit the vet. However
much we love our pets the bills for x-rays and medication can be
sky high, however you can insure your pet. Insuring your pet
doesn’t have to as expensive as you might think and could save
you money in the long run.
Insurance for your pet isn’t limited to paying out when it comes to vet bills, most insurance taken out
for your pet includes for other eventualities that can arise. For example should your pet be stolen then
most insurance companies will pay out for a reward offered.
One way of having money for any eventuality to cover your pet, is to not actually go with an insurance
company but instead set up an account which is solely for your pet and deposit money either as a lump
sum or put away a little each month and allow it to build up in case you should need it. This can often
work out cheaper than paying actual premiums through an insurer.
However if you wish to go with an insurer then shop around for the best deal with the cheapest
premium, things you should take into account when it comes to purchasing insurance include the
amount of excess that you pay. If you pay more excess then your premium will be lower.
Also watch out for hereditary conditions being excluded, many breeds have certain conditions which
are know to be passed from generation to generation so make sure your pet doesn’t fall into this
category or insurance could be worthless.
Finally take into account if there is a maximum pay out limit per year. Some policies will only pay out
to a set limit, if you have an older animal that needs regular treatment then it might not be covered.
Finding the Cheapest Home Insurance Quote
While the Press and Media are always telling us to shop around for
the cheapest home insurance quote, it can be difficult to do if you
don’t know where to start. Here we explain the best places to look –
and how to ensure you get the best price on your home insurance
quote.
Did you know that complacency is the biggest reason why we
overpay on our insurance? And that’s not just home insurance, but
motor insurance too.
The renewal notice drops through your letterbox once a year from
your current insurer and the premium doesn’t look much more
expensive than last year. So, you decide, for ease (and – dare we say it – out of sheer laziness!) to stick
with the same insurer.
9. Big mistake!
While you may be happy with your current insurer, if you want to pay less for your insurance, then you
really do need to shop around – if only to satisfy yourself that you really have got the best deal going!
And this needn’t be an exhaustive exercise that eats in to your precious time – you don’t have to trawl
the High Street or make lots of ‘phone calls - you can do it simply and quickly from the comfort of
your PC.
The great thing about using the internet to search out home insurance quotes is that it is speedy, free
and you don’t have to converse with anyone, thus saving you time and effort! You can also do it 24/7,
giving you the freedom to do your research at a time convenient to you.
And because the with online quotes and purchases there is less administration to do for the insurer, they
can offer you discounts, typically 5%-15% off the normal premium!
Finally, to ensure you find the right policy at the best price, do get at least three home insurance quotes
so that you can compare terms and conditions etc.
Try to get each quote on a like for like basis so that you can make a true cost comparison – do not make
the mistake of choosing the cheapest premium without checking out that there is no compromise on the
cover offered.
Different Types of Boat Insurance
When searching for boat insurance, you may be overwhelmed
when you find that there are many different types of boat
insurance policies available.
In general, insurance companies only offer one general
watercraft liability coverage policy; some others may offer
additional coverage that you are able to purchase.
If you have financed your dreamboat, the lender probably
requires you to obtain specific coverage. There are many
different types of coverage available that you can add, as an
addition to your standard policy.
The standard policy, the watercraft liability insurance coverage, is required by law in most states. This
insurance policy provides coverage in the event that damage occurs to a person or property as a result
of actions taken on your boat. This is true whether or not it is during transportation or actually on the
water. This is a law requirement in having this type of liability coverage, and each area will have its
own requirements as to how much you will need. It is wise to consult with an insurance agent to find
out what is necessary to meet the requirement of the law.
It is possible that medical payment coverage may be required in your area. This type of coverage pays
for the medical expenses, up to a specified amount, for you and any passenger on your boat that result
in an accident covered by the policy. As a suggestion, regardless of whether this insurance is required
or not, it would be wise to consider it. Medical expenses as a result of an accident can become
extremely high.
Another additional type of coverage to the standard liability coverage is the wreck removal and
pollution coverage. This should also be strongly considered. If your boat sinks or is involved in an
accident for any reason, you are required to remove it at once in accordance with the law.
10. If oil or gas leaks into the water as a result of an accident, you will be fined. The wreck removal and
pollution coverage provides coverage for this type of incident, without the coverage you will be
required to pay for the removal and fines out of your own pocket.
Just like in automobile coverage, you should definitely insure yourself against uninsured boats as well.
This works in the same manner as uninsured motorist insurance your automobiles. If another boater,
who does not have any type of insurance or enough coverage, collides with your boat on the water, this
coverage will pay for the replacement of your boat and any needed repairs.
Most all insurance policies you purchase should cover the boat, motor, and trailer used to transport
your boat. Liability coverage is not the only type of coverage that you will likely need in many cases.
Make sure that you protect your boat, optional coverage that includes theft, vandalism, losses caused by
storms, fire, sinking, capsizing, stranding, and collision. Speak to your insurance agent and find out
what type of insurance is required by your area and the types of coverage they can offer you.
Legal
Find a Good Family Law Attorney
If you are in need of locating a good attorney, one who specializes in
family law, then you need someone who can look after your interests
as well as the interests of your children. I have listed five options to
help you find the attorney who is right for you.
'1. Check with Friends, Family' – People you know can be an
excellent resource to help you locate a family law attorney. Somebody
you know probably has been through a similar experience; their
advice and support can be useful to you.
'2. The Bar Association' – A local or state bar association can be a wonderful resource as they will
tell you which of their members specialize in Family Law. Get a hold of that list, contact the attorneys
directly, and interview them. Typically, your first visit is free so that you can learn what the family law
attorney will do for you, their fee structure, and much more.
'3. Legal Aid Societies' – Your state or county should have a legal aid society. If you find that the
cost of retaining counsel is prohibitive, consider contacting your local chapter for help. Some will offer
their services for free or “pro bono.” Some attorneys will charge you based on a sliding scale, taking
into consideration your ability to repay. For parents with limited means, this can be a terrific option.
'4. Research' – Your library has legal directories featuring all kinds of legal professionals, while the
internet is an excellent resource for accurate and up to date information. Forums, list servs, ads, and
articles like the one you are reading now can be good sources to help you find attorney related
information.
'5. Check the Phone Book' – One of the most popular places for attorneys to list their availability is
with an old stand by: your phone book. Right smack dab in the yellow pages you will find scores of
attorneys featured with all the of their contact information listed, including web sites.
11. Divorce certainly isn’t fun, in fact it is downright painful. Your children will suffer, but you can help
ease the transition for them and you by finding an attorney who is compassionate and caring. For
additional support and spiritual guidance, arrange a visit with your pastor today.
Women, Divorce and the Law
It has been said that Divorce is worse than Death. Death of a spouse
is a painful wound that begins to heal after the funeral. A Divorce
however, will take months or years to reach closure. Eventually
these wounds will heal as well but the mourning period of the death
of a marriage can linger on for many years thereafter.
Why is divorce different for women? Whether it was she or her
spouse that initiated it, guilt will be a woman's initial emotion. Our
traditional role as keeper of the household will force her to question
everything she did or didn't do in the marriage and tend to blame
herself for the failure of the relationship.
The next emotion she will face is anger. Women tend to get angry only after they have finished feeling
guilty. A womam's anger must be used constructively therefore; a counselor or trained psychologist is
often the best person to consult with prior to or in conjunction with obtaining an attorney.
Continuing in their role as caregiver women will consider what is best for the children before she will
think of what is best for her. In seeking out the best interests of her children, women think as mothers
first and women second. Therefore it is imperative that women seeking divorce hire an advocate who
understands her duel needs and looks out for all of her interests as woman and mother.
Divorce is a painful process but it must be remembered that it is also part of the game of life. All
players have roles and perceptions are everything. A good attorney will be able to advise her client as to
how the game is played and what she needs to do to insure a favorable outcome.
A good attorney is an excellent negotiator and a strong advocate for her client. Good attorneys do not
make their living litigating every case, but succeed instead by bringing cases to fair conclusions as
expeditiously as possible.
In choosing an attorney a woman must feel completely comfortable with the attorney. She must have a
sense of simpatico that cannot always be put in words and most importantly feel complete trust. The
outcome of a divorce is usually a life-altering event.
The agreement reached will rule for years and in the event there are children continue to bind the
couple for many years thereafter. Interviewing potential attorneys is an important first step in the
process.
A good attorney will not shy away from tough questions nor will they guarantee success. As with all
important decisions check the appropriate agencies such as the local Bar Association, and question the
attorney about his or her accessibility.
Finally make sure the attorney you are hiring is the attorney you will see in court. Many larger firms
have associates who handle the case after the retainer is paid to the name partner. Ask to meet any
attorney who may handle your case.
12. Employment Law: Attendance Rewards
If you were thinking of offering your employees special rewards as
incentives for having good attendance records, then you must read on.
In fact, employers that offer attendance bonuses may find themselves
falling foul of the law.
The Royal Mail introduced a rewards scheme for staff that did not to
take time off sick. Under the Royal Mail's scheme, workers with full
attendance records were entered into a prize draw to win Ford Focus
cars or holiday vouchers worth £2,000.
As a staff incentive, it seemed to work. The Royal Mail says its overall
sickness absence levels fell during a nine-month period (between
August and April) by 11%.
However, such schemes could have serious ramifications from a legal viewpoint, and leave employers
vulnerable to a variety of legal claims.
Discrimination
Employees could bring discrimination claims on the grounds of disability or sex. The success of these
claims would depend on each employee's particular circumstances and needs, whether in relation to
their family, religion or health.
Alternatively, qualifying employees could bring claims for being subjected to detriment treatment as a
result of asserting their statutory rights, for example, for: -
- Time off for dependants and antenatal care
- Time off for study or training or time off for jury service
- Maternity leave
- Adoption leave; or
- Paternity or parental leave;
Disability discrimination may occur if, for example, an employee had time off connected to a disability
and this was not taken into account by the employer under the reward scheme.
The employee might claim that the failure of the employer to set aside his/her absence for disability
related reasons amounted to less favourable treatment.
How can employers protect themselves from such claims?
Employers can avoid these pitfalls by including a list of exceptions in the reward scheme, for example,
jury service or study leave, taking into account any statutory rights to time off; or
Pay bonuses to employees connected to performance in their job rather than implementing an
attendance reward.
Employers should be wary of adopting an attendance bonus scheme without legal consultation.
13. Guidelines to Pre-paid Legal
Are you enrolled in a pre-paid legal plan and worried your provider is
simply tallying up your tab for a service you’ll never get to use? Read on
as we explain the chances of using pre-paid legal services in legal
challenges you may be faced with.
In their lifetime, people are most likely to use legal services that fall into
four categories: civil defence, civil plaintiffs, criminal defence and legal
help that involves a variety of transactional or business law.
Your liability insurances already covers you for the legal pertaining to
civil defence. Your insurer hires the lawyer who will defend you and
have every incentive to defend your well since they are the ones who
bear your legal costs irrespective of the final outcome.
In that respect, you already have “pre-paid legal coverage” in place and a legal plan wouldn’t add much
to the coverage.
Civil plaintiff attorneys in the Unites States work on a “no win no fee” basis. This means that they will
not charge you unless they win you damages in an insurance claim or lawsuit against someone who
caused you physical injury.
Their contingency fees are calculated as a “commission” on any you and defend you well: the more
you win, the more he wins. There is no need to pre-pay for a service where you stand to lose nothing,
and where advice is readily available to you from plaintiff lawyers eager to work on your case.
On the rare occasion you need to bring criminal charges if you’re involved in a serious accident or
defend yourself against criminal charges brought against you, lining up a lawyer to represent you in
advance is not the best of decisions.
In these situations, client-lawyer rapport is crucial: you need someone whom you trust, build a rapport
with and competent enough to defend you in a court of law. You rarely get the chance to talk to your
attorney face-to-face in a pre-paid legal plan, and most of the attorneys in the network do not do
criminal defence work.
Transactional and business law is the area where you will most probably find pre-paid legal services
most effective. If you frequently need to someone to draft your wills, review simple contracts and set
up advance health-directives or simply want competent legal advice at your disposal, then going pre-
paid will save you the trouble of searching for an attorney and paying “a la carte”.
The Demise of Intellectual Property
Three years ago I published a book of short stories in Israel. The publishing
house belongs to Israel's leading (and exceedingly wealthy) newspaper. I
signed a contract which stated that I am entitled to receive 8% of the income
from the sales of the book after commissions payable to distributors, shops,
etc.
A few months later (1997), I won the coveted Prize of the Ministry of
Education (for short prose). The prize money (a few thousand DMs) was
snatched by the publishing house on the legal grounds that all the money
generated by the book belongs to them because they own the copyright.
14. In the mythology generated by capitalism to pacify the masses, the myth of intellectual property stands
out. It goes like this: if the rights to intellectual property were not defined and enforced, commercial
entrepreneurs would not have taken on the risks associated with publishing books, recording records,
and preparing multimedia products.
As a result, creative people will have suffered because they will have found no way to make their
works accessible to the public. Ultimately, it is the public which pays the price of piracy, goes the
refrain.
But this is factually untrue. In the USA there is a very limited group of authors who actually live by
their pen. Only select musicians eke out a living from their noisy vocation (most of them rock stars
who own their labels - George Michael had to fight Sony to do just that) and very few actors come
close to deriving subsistence level income from their profession.
All these can no longer be thought of as mostly creative people. Forced to defend their intellectual
property rights and the interests of Big Money, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Schwarzenegger and
Grisham are businessmen at least as much as they are artists.
Economically and rationally, we should expect that the costlier a work of art is to produce and the
narrower its market - the more emphasized its intellectual property rights.
Consider a publishing house.
A book which costs 50,000 DM to produce with a potential audience of 1000 purchasers (certain
academic texts are like this) - would have to be priced at a a minimum of 100 DM to recoup only the
direct costs. If illegally copied (thereby shrinking the potential market as some people will prefer to
buy the cheaper illegal copies) - its price would have to go up prohibitively to recoup costs, thus
driving out potential buyers.
The story is different if a book costs 10,000 DM to produce and is priced at 20 DM a copy with a
potential readership of 1,000,000 readers. Piracy (illegal copying) should in this case be more readily
tolerated as a marginal phenomenon.
This is the theory. But the facts are tellingly different. The less the cost of production (brought down by
digital technologies) - the fiercer the battle against piracy. The bigger the market - the more pressure is
applied to clamp down on samizdat entrepreneurs.
Governments, from China to Macedonia, are introducing intellectual property laws (under pressure
from rich world countries) and enforcing them belatedly. But where one factory is closed on shore (as
has been the case in mainland China) - two sprout off shore (as is the case in Hong Kong and in
Bulgaria).
But this defies logic: the market today is global, the costs of production are lower (with the exception
of the music and film industries), the marketing channels more numerous (half of the income of movie
studios emanates from video cassette sales), the speedy recouping of the investment virtually
guaranteed.
Moreover, piracy thrives in very poor markets in which the population would anyhow not have paid the
legal price. The illegal product is inferior to the legal copy (it comes with no literature, warranties or
support). So why should the big manufacturers, publishing houses, record companies, software
companies and fashion houses worry?
The answer lurks in history. Intellectual property is a relatively new notion. In the near past, no one
considered knowledge or the fruits of creativity (art, design) as "patentable", or as someone's
"property". The artist was but a mere channel through which divine grace flowed.
15. Texts, discoveries, inventions, works of art and music, designs - all belonged to the community and
could be replicated freely. True, the chosen ones, the conduits, were honoured but were rarely
financially rewarded. They were commissioned to produce their works of art and were salaried, in most
cases.
Only with the advent of the Industrial Revolution were the embryonic precursors of intellectual
property introduced but they were still limited to industrial designs and processes, mainly as embedded
in machinery. The patent was born. The more massive the market, the more sophisticated the sales and
marketing techniques, the bigger the financial stakes - the larger loomed the issue of intellectual
property.
It spread from machinery to designs, processes, books, newspapers, any printed matter, works of art
and music, films (which, at their beginning were not considered art), software, software embedded in
hardware, processes, business methods, and even unto genetic material.
Intellectual property rights - despite their noble title - are less about the intellect and more about
property. This is Big Money: the markets in intellectual property outweigh the total industrial
production in the world. The aim is to secure a monopoly on a specific work.
This is an especially grave matter in academic publishing where small- circulation magazines do not
allow their content to be quoted or published even for non-commercial purposes. The monopolists of
knowledge and intellectual products cannot allow competition anywhere in the world - because theirs is
a world market.
A pirate in Skopje is in direct competition with Bill Gates. When he sells a pirated Microsoft product -
he is depriving Microsoft not only of its income, but of a client (=future income), of its monopolistic
status (cheap copies can be smuggled into other markets), and of its competition-deterring image (a
major monopoly preserving asset). This is a threat which Microsoft cannot tolerate. Hence its efforts to
eradicate piracy - successful in China and an utter failure in legally-relaxed Russia.
But what Microsoft fails to understand is that the problem lies with its pricing policy - not with the
pirates. When faced with a global marketplace, a company can adopt one of two policies: either to
adjust the price of its products to a world average of purchasing power - or to use discretionary
differential pricing (as pharmaceutical companies were forced to do in Brazil and South Africa). A
Macedonian with an average monthly income of 160 USD clearly cannot afford to buy the
Encyclopaedia Encarta Deluxe. In America, 50 USD is the income generated in 4 hours of an average
job.
In Macedonian terms, therefore, the Encarta is 20 times more expensive. Either the price should be
lowered in the Macedonian market - or an average world price should be fixed which will reflect an
average global purchasing power.
Something must be done about it not only from the economic point of view. Intellectual products are
very price sensitive and highly elastic. Lower prices will be more than compensated for by a much
higher sales volume.
There is no other way to explain the pirate industries: evidently, at the right price a lot of people are
willing to buy these products. High prices are an implicit trade-off favouring small, elite, select, rich
world clientele. This raises a moral issue: are the children of Macedonia less worthy of education and
access to the latest in human knowledge and creation?
Two developments threaten the future of intellectual property rights. One is the Internet. Academics,
fed up with the monopolistic practices of professional publications - already publish on the web in big
numbers. I published a few book on the Internet and they can be freely downloaded by anyone.
16. The full text of electronic magazines, trade journals, billboards, professional publications, and
thousands of books is available online. Hackers even made sites available from which it is possible to
download whole software and multimedia products. It is very easy and cheap to publish on the Internet,
the barriers to entry are virtually nil.
Web pages are hosted free of charge, and authoring and publishing software tools are incorporated in
most word processors and browser applications. As the Internet acquires more impressive sound and
video capabilities it will proceed to threaten the monopoly of the record companies, the movie studios
and so on.
The second development is also technological. The oft-vindicated Moore's law predicts the doubling of
computer memory capacity every 18 months. But memory is only one aspect of computing power.
Another is the rapid simultaneous advance on all technological fronts.
Miniaturization and concurrent empowerment by software tools have made it possible for individuals
to emulate much larger scale organizations successfully. A single person, sitting at home with 5000
USD worth of equipment can fully compete with the best products of the best printing houses
anywhere.
CD-ROMs can be written on, stamped and copied in house. A complete music studio with the latest in
digital technology has been condensed to the dimensions of a single chip. This will lead to personal
publishing, personal music recording, and the to the digitization of plastic art. But this is only one side
of the story.
The relative advantage of the intellectual property corporation does not consist exclusively in its
technological prowess. Rather it lies in its vast pool of capital, its marketing clout, market positioning,
sales organization, and distribution network.
Nowadays, anyone can print a visually impressive book, using the above-mentioned cheap equipment.
But in an age of information glut, it is the marketing, the media campaign, the distribution, and the
sales that determine the economic outcome.
This advantage, however, is also being eroded.
First, there is a psychological shift, a reaction to the commercialization of intellect and spirit. Creative
people are repelled by what they regard as an oligarchic establishment of institutionalized, lowest
common denominator art and they are fighting back.
Secondly, the Internet is a huge (200 million people), truly cosmopolitan market, with its own
marketing channels freely available to all. Even by default, with a minimum investment, the likelihood
of being seen by surprisingly large numbers of consumers is high.
I published one book the traditional way - and another on the Internet. In 50 months, I have received
6500 written responses regarding my electronic book. Well over 500,000 people read it (my Link
Exchange meter registered c. 2,000,000 impressions since November 1998).
It is a textbook (in psychopathology) - and 500,000 readers is a lot for this kind of publication. I am so
satisfied that I am not sure that I will ever consider a traditional publisher again. Indeed, my last book
was published in the very same way.
17. The demise of intellectual property has lately become abundantly clear. The old intellectual property
industries are fighting tooth and nail to preserve their monopolies (patents, trademarks, copyright) and
their cost advantages in manufacturing and marketing. But they are faced with three inexorable
processes which are likely to render their efforts vain:
The Newspaper Packaging
Print newspapers offer package deals of cheap content subsidized by advertising. In other words, the
advertisers pay for content formation and generation and the reader has no choice but be exposed to
commercial messages as he or she studies the content.
This model - adopted earlier by radio and television - rules the internet now and will rule the wireless
internet in the future. Content will be made available free of all pecuniary charges.
The consumer will pay by providing his personal data (demographic data, consumption patterns and
preferences and so on) and by being exposed to advertising. Subscription based models are bound to
fail.
Thus, content creators will benefit only by sharing in the advertising cake. They will find it
increasingly difficult to implement the old models of royalties paid for access or of ownership of
intellectual property.
Disintermediation
A lot of ink has been spilt regarding this important trend. The removal of layers of brokering and
intermediation - mainly on the manufacturing and marketing levels - is a historic development (though
the continuation of a long term trend).
Consider music for instance. Streaming audio on the internet or downloadable MP3 files will render the
CD obsolete. The internet also provides a venue for the marketing of niche products and reduces the
barriers to entry previously imposed by the need to engage in costly marketing ("branding") campaigns
and manufacturing activities.
This trend is also likely to restore the balance between artist and the commercial exploiters of his
product. The very definition of "artist" will expand to include all creative people.
One will seek to distinguish oneself, to "brand" oneself and to auction off one's services, ideas,
products, designs, experience, etc. This is a return to pre-industrial times when artisans ruled the
economic scene.
Work stability will vanish and work mobility will increase in a landscape of shifting allegiances, head
hunting, remote collaboration and similar labour market trends.
Market Fragmentation
In a fragmented market with a myriad of mutually exclusive market niches, consumer preferences and
marketing and sales channels - economies of scale in manufacturing and distribution are meaningless.
Narrowcasting replaces broadcasting, mass customization replaces mass production, a network of
shifting affiliations replaces the rigid owned-branch system.
The decentralized, intrapreneurship-based corporation is a late response to these trends. The mega-
corporation of the future is more likely to act as a collective of start-ups than as a homogeneous,
uniform (and, to conspiracy theorists, sinister) juggernaut it once was.
18. The Law of Attraction In A Legal Aspect
This shocking truth may be shocking to more than just a few people.
The success or failure in applying the law of attraction is based largely
on how much energy a person has.
So although your intent may be clear, if your own energy is low then
you are not as likely to gain the success you are trying to achieve.
There are several ancient yet scientifically proven ways to increase
your personal energy to yield outstanding results.
The results could be as extreme as, using the techniques and
manifesting results within days compared to not using it and waiting
for months to see results.
We as human beings need to gain as well as conserve our energy in order to propel our thoughts with
dynamic impact. Increased energy is everything to the attraction process.
The benefits of positive thinking are not limited to just being happy. When your thoughts are positive
and high you conserve more of your personal energy. However when your thoughts are low and
negative you can immediately feel powerless and drained of energy.
Energy is all around you and although you may not be able to see it, you can become aware of it and
use it to increase your intentions using the law of attraction. However no matter what tools or
techniques you use to raise your energy level the most important first step is to begin with your person
energy.
One way to begin monitoring your own energy is to ask yourself this question: How often do you
engage in meaningful exchanges with people who love and support you? Believe it or not, the energy
directed towards you from others greatly feeds your power to attract what you want. People are either
taking or adding to your tank of energy.
When you add high energy with the law of attraction you can gain greater results, quickly. That is the
one secret that few people seem to understand. Ask yourself these questions, how effective have you
been in manifesting what you want? What would you want to attract if you could greatly increase your
manifesting energy?
All The Best!
Best Regards,
Victor Gomez.
