[Tfug] Fwd: They patented WHAT?

[Bexley Hall]

Hi Bowie,

> Software patents are an irrelevant, archaic holdover from
> the industrial revolution when innovation worth protecting
> came in the form of physical, tangible objects. Not ideas.

There needs to be some sort of balance between protecting IP
and making IP a deterrent to progress.  In a fast paced
industry like software, the term on a patent should be
severely limited -- like *2* years!  If the patent holder can't
exploit his "novel idea" in that time frame, he should
forfeit his claims to it.

There are other approaches the "inventor" can exploit if he
thinks his "invention" is *so* valuable that it merits
longer protections...

If you think software patents are obscene, consider patents
on *genes*!  :-(