Software patents and FreeBSD

[David Kelly]

This doesn't belong on Questions or Hackers.

On Jul 8, 2005, at 6:28 PM, R. Tyler Ballance wrote:

> Howdy,
>
>     i'll be meeting tuesday with staffers for my congressman (since  
> he's still in D.C.) to discuss software patents and the "evil"  
> behind them.

There is absolutely nothing inherently evil about so-called "software  
patents." If an invention has honestly been made then it makes no  
difference whatsoever if its implemented in software or with gears  
and levers, the inventor deserves protection.

The problem lies with the Patent Office for issuing patents for prior  
art. Funniest example I know of is "Method of Exercising a Cat"  
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5443036.html. Its a laser pointer.  
Who hasn't played with a cat using a flashlight or mirror before  
laser pointers were invented?

Another example is that the Patent Office used to new patents for old  
technology simply because the new claim specified a 10" disk drive  
rather than 12". This silliness was mostly resolved between 5-1/4"  
and 3-1/2".

--
David Kelly N4HHE, dkelly at HiWAAY.net
========================================================================
Whom computers would destroy, they must first drive mad.