Venture Capitalists Lobby Against Software Patents

ciaran_o_riordan writes "No matter which side the US Supreme Court's Bilski decision pleases, it will be just the beginning of the software patent debate in the USA — the other side will start a legislative battle. The lobbying has already begun, with venture capitalist Brad Feld arguing against software patents, mailing a copy of Patent Absurdity to 200 patent policy setters. As Feld puts it, 'Specifically, I'm hoping the film will bring you to an understanding of why patents on software are a massive tax on and retardant of innovation in the US.' The patent lawyers and big patent holders often tell us that patents are needed to secure investment, so it's interesting to see now that venture capitalists are refuting that. And Brad Feld isn't the only vocal one; there's a growing list."

Comments

Obligatory link

[Lonewolf666]

"Against intellectual monopoly" by Boldrin and Levine:
http://levine.sscnet.ucla.edu/general/intellectual/againstnew.htm

This book nicely sums up the arguments against patents :-)

Re:American regulation.

[burnin1965]

America just doesn't understand how to do proper regulation. Every attempt at regulation ends up causing more problems than it manages to fix, or the lack of regulation ends up allowing horrid behavior to occur.

Every now and again the United States does get it right.

Before the United States government forced aircraft manufacturers and patent holders into the Manufacturers Aircraft Association there was a patent war that resulted in lots of litigation in the United States but no aircraft manufacturing or innovation once the patent war started.

When a real war broke out, WW1, the United States had to buy aircraft from France because the United States business ventures were more interested in lawsuits than making aircraft.

After ending the patent war by forcing everyone into a patent pool the aircraft industry in the United States took off.

There are other similar cases that plainly show how the patent system has been a failure from the beginning in serving the Constitutional requirements. To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts.

oh my....

[gandhi_2]

I am no fan of Michael Moore (well, i liked TV Nation)...but these dudes could learn a lot from his style of instigation-based film-making.

I watched the video all the way to the end....it only resonates with me cause i already agree with it. It's a film for the echo chamber. But it will fail to convince anyone in the middle...

Re:Absurdly obvious

[burnin1965]

they usually create innovations independently then pay protection money to the trolls

Actually it works both ways.

While their primary function is not as a patent troll Apple, Microsoft and Amazon have in turn played the role of the frivilous patent litigant with the biggest difference being in their objective of halting the "Progress of Science and useful Arts" to the betterment of their bottom line.

Re:American regulation.

[burnin1965]

Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980
Say hello to risky and out of control lending

Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act, 1982
Enjoy the savings and loan crisis

Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999 would do away with restrictions on the integration of banking, insurance and stock trading imposed by the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933
Welcome the age of "too big to fail"

Re:Absurdly obvious

[Alien Being]

"The start-up is first to market (by definition)"

That's just wrong. A start-up is simply a new company.