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Top Mythconceptions On VG Patent Protection
Gamasutra has up a vociferously pro-IP feature discussing some of the major misconceptions over software patent law as they regard videogames. The article is written from a lawyer's perspective, and includes details on what you can patent, if it's worthwhile to patent, and the costs involved. From the article: "As more and more companies enter the market, and spend more and more resources developing those innovations, protecting those innovations will become even more critical. We hope this article has been helpful in dispelling some of the myths surrounding patents and video games, and we encourage all software game developers to take their intellectual property rights to heart."
I wonder if all the complaining generated by stories like this will ever amount to anything. Sure, it might "feel good" to denounce "evil corprorations" for stifling progress with their avalanche of patents, but what can a person do about it anyhow? Most people are not personally affected by the patent problem, or at least do not think they are, so any democratic way of protest will inevitably fail. Congressmen and senators will pay far more attention to those who can contribute to their campaigns than to a few free software weirdos who think (for some unfathomable to them reason) that patents are bad. Free speech is rather pointless if nobody cares, don't you think? Perhaps it might be a good idea to just abandon the entire "Your Rights Online" section, and forgo the flamewars. You can't change the world. Get used to it.