Aquaponics systems: Credit Where Credit is Due

A very interesting discussion took place in the community gardening Aquaponic last week.  It was titled "credit to other Aqua pons" and was started by Eric Warwick.  He asked, "such as aquaponics increasingly commercialized with the additions of kits grows, how will we keep ourselves of stealing other peoples ideas? '

The thread started by exploring the feasibility of patenting aquaponics designs.  The conclusion was that patents are difficult if not impossible to perform in the digital society of today.  Each online record of a conversation or an image prior to filing your patent expires.  Then, even if you do manage to meet the requirements of a patent, they can be quite easy to get around.  Finally, you must defend your patent infringement if it is on.  This is a very expensive proposition.

So if the legal system is not a good option for the enforcement of "credit where credit is due", what is? The group walked to "gentlemen agreements" as the best choice.  Aquaponics designs are available on the Internet, and anyone who is interested in building systems can be up and running with some effort research (although the quality of that information is another topic).  The question is one of ethics.  If you are someone the information for your own use systems, especially if you sell them, should not you give credit to that person?

Well, Yes and no.  Kobus Jooste as "Credit will always be given to pioneers in this industry, but since there is so much logic and overlap with related industries, I suggest caution for anyone who wants to start deciding who thought of what first."

So when designing your own aquaponics system, you're stealing ideas from others, or are you inspired by them?  In my opinion, is the line drawn when you claim the idea for your own.  We must celebrate innovation around aquaponics.  Take the ideas and the designs that are out there and improve on them but recognize the pioneers in the industry and unassuming about their role vs. your own.  Free name your guru.  Our is Murray Hallam of practical Aquaponics in Australia and his CHOP2 designs.  Who is your guru?

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