Re: The patent process [Was Re: Sharing the Family PC is Patent-Pending]

[AES/newspost]

In article <20040512231913.15404bf7.tengo@DELETEMEecc.lu>,
 Stefaan A Eeckels <tengo@DELETEMEecc.lu> wrote:

> 
> If this is correct, a software author should have every
> program examined by a patent attorney, have a stash of
> cash in order to be able to defend a lawsuit, and prepare
> to spend time in court if ever one of her programs is seen
> as a threat by one of the big boys, in which case it is
> better to sell them the program before she's bankrupted.
> 

And fight for massive patent reform which puts far more burden of 
justification on the patent applicant, includes far more substantial 
potential downsides for applying for and being granted an invalid 
patent, involves genuine technical as well as legal expertise in 
evaluating patent applications, and gives far more realistic weight to 
prior art and genuine novelty.