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Software Patents Compared to Hard Patents

Posted by Zonk on from the different-flavours-of-patent dept.

Arie writes "The Slate discusses the obvious differences between patenting an algorithm and a drug. The article introduces the Fence test, which basically says that if you can physically protect your property, you have a case patenting it. In addition, it claims that the burden on a programmer identifying whether he is infringing on a patent or not involves excessive research burden, essentially to the inherent lack of physical boundaries. Obviously the article starts off with mentioning the patent dispute between RIM and NTL."

4 of 134 comments (clear)

  1. I have software patents by Neil+Blender · · Score: 1, Funny

    And they are protected by an electronic fence.

  2. From Soft to Hard by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'll bet Carmen Electra could turn a soft patent into a hard patent if she held it in her hands.

  3. QED by ObsessiveMathsFreak · · Score: 2, Funny

    Mathematical algorithms cannot be patented.

    All Software is mathematical algorithms.

    Therefore, software cannot be patented.

    The Slate can shove it.

    --
    May the Maths Be with you!
  4. My new patent: "select * from" by tokengeekgrrl · · Score: 1, Funny

    My unique algorithm prefix enables the extraction of data as contained within a one or multi dimensional data storage array that may or may not be indexed by key values of a primary or foreign nature.

    I, hereby, charge a $1 licensing fee per instance of my patented algorithm used in all commercial or commercially viable applications.

    - smarta**geekgrrl