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262 people want software patents abolished.
In the software world, patents are stifling innovation instead of encouraging it!
Companies are patenting small, simple ideas that then get used unknowingly in other software and then suing them for using those obvious ideas. (Lodsys, who is suing any phone app developer who uses in-app transactions, is the latest example of this.)
The traditional argument for patents is that they encourage innovation by granting inventors a twenty-year monopoly on their inventions. First of all, twenty years in the software world is WAY too long. Even the best ideas don't deserve to be locked up that long.
But more importantly, software patents are unnecessary. Innovation in software is rewarding enough without the added benefit of a patent monopoly.
Companies are patenting small, simple ideas that then get used unknowingly in other software and then suing them for using those obvious ideas. (Lodsys, who is suing any phone app developer who uses in-app transactions, is the latest example of this.)
The traditional argument for patents is that they encourage innovation by granting inventors a twenty-year monopoly on their inventions. First of all, twenty years in the software world is WAY too long. Even the best ideas don't deserve to be locked up that long.
But more importantly, software patents are unnecessary. Innovation in software is rewarding enough without the added benefit of a patent monopoly.
Askers (262)
Craig
Brandon
Alexandre
Julius
Andrew
Ask For It
Adam
Darren
Jannes
Laurie
Nick
Emmanuel
Keywords: patent, patents, software
Categories: Inventions, Technology, Internet & Websites
Categories: Inventions, Technology, Internet & Websites
Started: 01 Jun 2011
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Progress (3)
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tim-oreilly-says-patent-trolls-could-be
-the-end-of-silicon-valley/?awesm=tnw.t
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m=tnw.to-other&utm_source=t.co&
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_id=13735
Definately worth a read.
n-open-letter-to-the-uspto/
http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2011/06/enough-
is-enough.html
s-any-good-for-entrepreneurs
) the whole patent system is a bit of a mess - and that's even without throwing in the utter disaster of software patents.
We're lucky not to have software patents in the UK. It really sucks that the US, which otherwise leads the world in entrepreneurship and tech startups, has software patents.