How To Survive a Patent Challenge?

An anonymous reader writes "I have written a nifty application that helps me run my own business, and could really help in running almost any business. It has been abstracted well enough that it could very plausibly be made a sale-able product. There are several very good, possibly patentable ideas within it. However, they are overshadowed by virtually an infinite number of possible bs challenges to its more mundane parts. I'm rather fearful of bringing this to market for that reason, and so far have only deployed it as a 'consulting' project with two other small companies (who love it). Does anyone have suggestions about how to proceed?" Other than a generic "hire a lawyer!", are there practical steps a software author can do here?

Comments

Ideas

[sconeu]

"There are several very good, possibly patentable ideas within it"

BZZZT!!!! And thank you for playing. Here's your lovely parting gift. Yes, the USPTO has gone insane, but you're not supposed to be able to patent an idea.