Slashdot Mirror
US Supreme Court Skeptical of Business Method Patents
Trepidity writes "The US Supreme Court held oral argument Monday in Bilski, a business-methods patent case that might also have important implications for software patents (We have previously discussed the case several times). The tone of the argument appears to be good news, as the justices were very skeptical of the broad patentability claims. They even brought up a parade of absurd hypothetical patents quite similar to the ones Slashdotters tend to mention in these kinds of debates. Roberts surmised that 'buy low, sell high' might be a patentable business method, Sotomayor wondered if speed-dating could be patentable, Breyer questioned whether a professor could patent a lesson plan that kept his students from falling asleep, and Scalia brought up the old-time radio soap opera Lorenzo Jones, featuring a hare-brained inventor with delusions of getting rich." Patently O has good blow-by-blow coverage of the day's proceedings. Official argument transcripts will be up soon, they say.
Seriously, Scalia's "pop culture" reference is a radio show that went off the air in the mid 50's? Seriously? When he's talking about cars, does he compare everything to a 1954 DeSoto?
Don't they have law clerks that can help them line up snappy references? For example, "Professor Farnsworth" comes to mind. Sure, it's obscure, but not much more than his reference.
First, no, that's why I said what I said. Second, wtf? I go trolling intentionally and get modded insightful. I state an honest, if cynical, opinion and get trolled? I'm starting to hate this site, it's dominated by fucking morons. Yes, THAT was a troll. Do your worst, assholes.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - Evelyn Beatrice Hall, re Voltaire
Mod parent up!
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
And by asking for moderation, you pretty much guarantee no one will moderate your post. That's the 5th law of SlashReality.
Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.
FFS, how any times are we going to have to hear idiotic permutations of that same joke?
It's the same as what's happened to me at work. Our offices have windows opening onto the hallways, but for years the windows have had frosted glass. THe new director of our division decided he wanted to be able to "see what we're doing in there", and paid to have clear glass put in. Doesn't bother me, because I'm too busy working to care. What really drives me up the wall is every goddamn jackass who walks by feels the need to knock on the window, or make a face, or clown around in front of the window. Yes, I get it. You can see me through that window, and before you could not. The window has been there four weeks! Get the fuck over it!.
So yeah, new pointless window jokers = stupid "i've patented jerking off" type jokes. Shut the fuck up already, willya?
If a job's not worth doing, it's not worth doing right.