# The copy-box **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 1, 2012, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copy-box/636376 "2012-10-01T11:26:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copy-box/636376/1 "2012-10-01T11:26:20Z")
This is based on an idea for a story I’ve had recently, but imagine a plain wooden box which is 10cm x 10cm x 10cm. The top hinges open and anything you place inside is immediately duplicated as soon as you close the lid and open it again. Duplication is perfect - any flaws on the original will appear on copies. Copies are made of exactly the same matter as the original and are utterly indistinguishable from the original. The only caveat is that if there is not enough space available for a complete copy, then the process will not work. By this I mean that if you stuff the box full of gold and then close the lid, nothing will happen. Fill it half-full however, and you end up with a full box of gold. The lid must close completely for the process to work, although the process itself is instantaneous. The process also works on living matter. What would you do with it? Sure, copying money or gold will make you rich, but as the box is so small, it would time a long time. Is there a faster way? What kind of fun could you have with it? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copy-box/636376/2 "2012-10-01T11:38:01Z")
I vaguely remember a short story somewhat along these lines. A means of perfect duplication had been discovered, and so there was (almost) nothing original left in the whole world. The story follows a cat burglar type, who is after the very last original item in the whole world. At the end: It turns out the burglar wasn’t actually trying to steal it at all. The guards stumble onto the scene of the crime and find out that the object (a scribble done by its owner when he was like 5 years old) has been copied by a portable duplicator. There’s no way to tell them apart anymore. ETA: For your scenario, though, I’d just use gold. It wouldn’t take THAT long, considering how absurdly valuable the stuff is. Once I had enough money to buy some decent connections (for selling what I’m duplicating), I’d go ahead and use the box to duplicate some REALLY valuable stuff, like plutonium or perfect diamonds. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copy-box/636376/3 "2012-10-01T13:15:54Z")
[Didn’t Calvin do something like that?](http://calvinandhobbes.wikia.com/wiki/Duplicator) (ETA: Yeah, I know: his was a little bit bigger…) ---
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copy-box/636376/4 "2012-10-01T13:29:46Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > [Didn’t Calvin do something like that?](http://calvinandhobbes.wikia.com/wiki/Duplicator) > > (ETA: Yeah, I know: his was a little bit bigger…) Yeah I love that strip, but what would _you_ do with the box? ---
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copy-box/636376/5 "2012-10-01T13:32:11Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > I vaguely remember a short story somewhat along these lines. A means of perfect duplication had been discovered, and so there was (almost) nothing original left in the whole world. The story follows a cat burglar type, who is after the very last original item in the whole world. At the end: > > It turns out the burglar wasn’t actually trying to steal it at all. The guards stumble onto the scene of the crime and find out that the object (a scribble done by its owner when he was like 5 years old) has been copied by a portable duplicator. There’s no way to tell them apart anymore. > > ETA: For your scenario, though, I’d just use gold. It wouldn’t take THAT long, considering how absurdly valuable the stuff is. Once I had enough money to buy some decent connections (for selling what I’m duplicating), I’d go ahead and use the box to duplicate some REALLY valuable stuff, like plutonium or perfect diamonds. How would you go about selling loads and loads of perfect diamonds without arousing suspicion? For that matter, how would you go about selling plutonium without irradiating yourself or getting the Gub’mint or your tail? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copy-box/636376/6 "2012-10-01T13:36:13Z")
> [@Bibliovore](#): > > How would you go about selling loads and loads of perfect diamonds without arousing suspicion? For that matter, how would you go about selling plutonium without irradiating yourself or getting the Gub’mint or your tail? That’s why I’d start in gold. I figure that after I made a few million I’d be able to get myself some seedy underworld connections. And as for selling Plutonium? One word. [Libyans.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDS81Ibazdk) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copy-box/636376/7 "2012-10-01T13:53:22Z")
> [@Bibliovore](#): > > Yeah I love that strip, but what would _you_ do with the box? For one thing, I’d never run out of quarters to do my laundry. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copy-box/636376/8 "2012-10-01T13:58:12Z")
Find a time machine, take the box back to 1935 and _really_ screw with Schrödinger’s head. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copy-box/636376/9 "2012-10-01T14:12:28Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Find a time machine, take the box back to 1935 and _really_ screw with Schrödinger’s head. I wonder. Then it would be a cat box, right? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copy-box/636376/10 "2012-10-01T14:24:53Z")
> [@Bibliovore](#): > > How would you go about selling loads and loads of perfect diamonds without arousing suspicion? Perfect diamonds aren’t some sort of fanciful, impossible possibility. They already exist today. Ever heard of a flawless diamond? ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copy-box/636376/11 "2012-10-01T14:28:32Z")
A list of things I would never have to buy again: Boxes of nails/screws/tacks Shoes Gloves Socks (I could finally realize my dream of wearing a new pair of sock every day!) Whiskey, rum, vodka, etc. Silverware Plates, bowls, mugs, etc. Matches Candles Razors Pens Pencils Paper Toilet paper Sandpaper T-shirts Spices For some of these I’d have to keep one of the things unopened/unused, but it would be nice to have a never ending supply of basic stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copy-box/636376/12 "2012-10-01T15:42:59Z")
Well, gold has a density of 19 g/cc, so if you pack the box perfectly half-full, you should be able to duplicate 500ccx19g = 9.5 kg of gold at each go. At $57 /gram, we’re looking at half a million dollars worth of gold each time you duplicate. Even if gold prices drop by 90%, I don’t think the speed of duplication is going to be the biggest issue. And selling gold few-questions-asked is going to be much easier than selling diamonds or computer chips or plutonium or whatever. I imagine the real challenge is going to be pesky inquiries from the IRS and/or money-laundering authorities. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copy-box/636376/13 "2012-10-01T15:52:23Z")
I suspect my doctor or dentist will be confused the next time I need a prescription for pain meds and tell him one pill should be plenty. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copy-box/636376/14 "2012-10-01T17:18:02Z")
There was another SF short story from long ago, where a similar device had been designed. I think it didn’t allow duplicating living tissue, though. But it didn’t have the size limitation, and in practice it became possible to replicate the replicator itself. Pretty soon everybody had one, and the economy lay in ruins. I think the only valuable thing left were humans, which couldn’t be replicated. But the OP’s box obviously can’t replicate itself, and let’s assume that we only have one box. What would I do with it? - Find a way to make the iPhone completely independent of any hardware serial numbers, then start making duplicates and sell them on eBay. - Find the perfect frozen dessert and stockpile duplicates for personal use. - Make AA and AAA batteries. It’s not that time-consuming: in the box you have room for a few dozen batteries, I’d say. Free energy! - Make duplicate audio CDs and distribute them for free, to really mess with the RIAA’s head. - Make bullets and grenades for when the police find out about this. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copy-box/636376/15 "2012-10-01T17:34:56Z")
> [@Heracles](#): > > - Make duplicate audio CDs and distribute them for free, to really mess with the RIAA’s head. You don’t need a “copy-box” for that now, although it might cost a few pennies. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copy-box/636376/16 "2012-10-01T17:46:17Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I wonder. Then it would be a cat box, right? Yes and no. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copy-box/636376/17 "2012-10-01T18:04:39Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > You don’t need a “copy-box” for that now, although it might cost a few pennies. (Talking about audio CDs) I agree, but in this case it’s not possible to tell which is the original, for-resale CD and which is the copy. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copy-box/636376/18 "2012-10-01T18:15:23Z")
> [@Bibliovore](#): > > What would you do with it? Sure, copying money or gold will make you rich, but as the box is so small, it would time a long time. Is there a faster way? What kind of fun could you have with it? Depends. Do I get the only one of these, or does everybody get one? Because if these boxes are available to all, then gold, silver, diamonds, all compact valuables will soon be worth very little, and the main advantage to such a box would be the convenience of never having to buy a host of small items ever again. But if I got the only one, yeah baby, I’d be rich. Drain my retirement accounts, buy as much gold as I can manage, and after a couple of duplications, I’d be up to half a box. Then another couple thousand duplications later, I’d be a billionaire. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copy-box/636376/19 "2012-10-01T19:21:44Z")
Oops, my audio CD won’t fit in a 10x10x10 cm box. The iPhone probably will, though, depending on the box’ wall thickness. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copy-box/636376/20 "2012-10-01T21:00:59Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > But if I got the only one, yeah baby, I’d be rich. Drain my retirement accounts, buy as much gold as I can manage, and after a couple of duplications, I’d be up to half a box. Then another couple thousand duplications later, I’d be a billionaire. Um…or just buy a tiny bit of gold, open and shut the lid repeatedly for about 15 seconds, and have enough gold to create a 10x10x5 block, and then duplicate that. Maybe I’d take a day out of my life and crash the SD card market - selling 128 GB cards for pennies on ebay. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copy-box/636376.md?page=2)