gnu-misc-discuss
[Top][All Lists]
Advanced

[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: The patent process


From: Stefaan A Eeckels
Subject: Re: The patent process
Date: Thu, 13 May 2004 12:20:47 +0200

On Wed, 12 May 2004 21:18:43 -0400
Barry Margolin <barmar@alum.mit.edu> wrote:

> Suppose someone is trying to be a good citizen and avoid infringing any 
> patents?  If he's writing a browser, how would he know that his patent 
> search should include phrases like "launch an application" when, as far 
> as he's concerned, he never performs that activity?

It would seem that the rĂ´le of software patents is to allow
large corporates to sue the hell out of any competitor they 
want to sue. Similarly large competitors would typically 
have enough patents to fall back on cross-licensing arrangements,
and shrug off the atack.

Because smaller entities (and certainly individual programmers)
don't have the resources (patent and money and time-wise) to
fight the lawsuits, they can either stop selling the alledgedly
infringing software, or sell the product (far too cheaply) to
the company alledging to have a patent that covers their program.

This enables large companies to innovate, which is the objective
of the patent system.

Take care,

-- 
Stefaan
-- 
"What is stated clearly conceives easily."  -- Inspired sales droid

reply via email to

[Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread]