Tech moguls Jack Dorsey and Elon Musk have sparked a heated debate on intellectual property laws, with Dorsey declaring that all IP law should be deleted and Musk agreeing. The sudden and unexpected stance has left many in the tech community scratching their heads, wondering what prompted this drastic call to action.

The timing of this declaration is particularly noteworthy, as AI companies, including OpenAI, which Musk co-founded, are facing numerous lawsuits alleging copyright infringement in their model training practices. This has led some to speculate that the comments may be related to the ongoing legal battles. Tech evangelist and investor Chris Messina alluded to this, suggesting that automated IP fines and three-strike rules for AI infringement may become a substitute for punishing individuals for cannabis possession.

However, not everyone is sympathetic to Dorsey and Musk's stance. Ed Newton-Rex, whose nonprofit Fairly Trained certifies AI training practices that respect creators' rights, described the exchange as "Tech execs declaring all-out war on creators who don't want their life's work pillaged for profit." Writer Lincoln Michel went further, stating that "none of Jack or Elon's companies would exist without IP law," and that they simply "hate artists."

Dorsey attempted to clarify his stance in subsequent replies, arguing that there are "much greater models to pay creators" and that the current system takes too much from them, only to rent-seek. He emphasized that creativity is what separates human creations from AI creations, and that the current system is limiting that creativity while putting payment disbursement in the hands of gatekeepers who aren't paying out fairly.

Musk's reply is consistent with his past statements, such as telling Jay Leno that "patents are for the weak." A decade ago, he pledged that Tesla would not enforce patents against other companies that used them "in good faith." However, the company subsequently sued Australia's Cap-XX over patents, citing a response to a lawsuit Cap-XX filed against a Tesla subsidiary.

Dorsey's history with open-source projects, including the open social media project that eventually became Bluesky, adds another layer of complexity to his stance. Although he seemed to become disillusioned and eventually left Bluesky's board, his involvement raises questions about his commitment to creator rights.

The implications of this debate extend beyond a simple Twitter exchange. With Musk's influence in the tech world and his past involvement in government policy, the line between a random conversation on Twitter/X and actual government policy is thinner than it used to be. This has sparked concerns about the potential impact on creators and the future of intellectual property laws.

As the tech community continues to grapple with the consequences of AI-driven innovation, the debate sparked by Dorsey and Musk serves as a reminder of the need for careful consideration of the rights and interests of creators. While the call to "delete all IP law" may be extreme, it highlights the urgent need for reform and a more nuanced approach to intellectual property in the digital age.