What is the Right Patent Policy?

Jeremy asks: "I am drafting a policy for my employer's patents and software. My employer is unwilling to do away with software patents altogether, but I believe that there are benefits in restricting our patents' enforcement. Comments on our draft of a policy and opinions on what the business advantages of both sides are greatly appreciated."

Comments

enforce profit

[littlerubberfeet]

If someone is making money off of YOUR patent, you should enforce the patent. If a company is using your patent to harm you in some way, it should be enforced. Also if they are developing something with the intent to harm.

I think though, that if a person is doing research or developing something for their private use, then leave them alone. Same goes if the are developing for an open-source project.