IBM Patents Optimization

jamie(really) writes "IBM appears to want to patent optimizing programs by trial and error, which in the history of programming has, of course, never been done. Certainly, all my optimizations have been the result of good planning. Well done IBM for coming up with this clever idea. What is claimed is: 'A method for developing a computer program product, the method comprising: evaluating one or more refactoring actions to determine a performance attribute; associating the performance attribute with a refactoring action used in computer code; and undoing the refactoring action of the computer code based on the performance attribute. The method of claim 1 wherein the undoing refactoring is performed when the performance attribute indicates a negative performance effect of the computer code.'"

Comments

There needs to be a penalty

[Anonymous Coward]

We need to implement a penalty for patent stupidity. The first time you try to patent something you shouldn't, a randomly-chosen patent you hold becomes public domain. Every attempt after that, and the penalty doubles.
Overly Broad patents, Business Method patents, [common activity]+"on a computer" patents, [common activity]+"on a network" patents. The more you try to troll, the more you can lose.

That, or I need to go patent the scientific method, before somebody beats me to it. Don't worry, I'll license it out, for a modest fee, out of generosity.