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Tim Bray Finds An Affinity Between Patents And OSS

Posted by timothy on from the but-the-broken-system-remains-broken dept.

Manuzhai writes "Tim Bray, of XML co-invention fame, is writing about software patents and Open Source software today. While he deprecates the 'business-method' patents like one-click ordering, he thinks some (Open) source code could tell the truth about a patent application: 'In fact, in an ideal world, I'd rewrite the law to allow software patents but require a working Open-Source implementation as a condition of getting one.'"

2 of 209 comments (clear)

  1. Patenting of laws by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sorry this may seem slightly offtopic but.. How come John Kerry or GWB don't patent their ideas for laws? That way innovation in legislature can be boosted. Hell, you can then have companies R&D'ing effective legislation that can boost the economy. They can then sell the law to the politicians who will pay a either a one time lump sum or portion of the laws revenue to the company.

    If patents boost innovation and improve quality of life .. why isn't this a practice for legislature as well. Also it will cut down on Democrats stealing Republicans ideas and vice versa .. and spur innovation within these parties.

    Technically existing business process patents can be utilized to patent laws.

    Anyway, nuff said .. I'm off to patent my universal healthcare idea.

  2. Inconthievable by IcyHando'Death · · Score: 2, Funny

    "...While he deprecates the 'business-method' patents like one-click ordering..."

    You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

    IM