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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."
Subjects which are related to regulation issues
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[x] Prohibition
[x] The deregulation of the financial system
[x] "War on Drugs"
[ ] "War on Terror"
[x] Deregulation of the oil industry
[x] Software Patents
Other than that, I'm pretty much on the same page as you. You could have, however, thrown in the following:
[x] Campaign contributions
[x] Prostitution
[x] Internet Gambling
OFFTOPIC lark.
//ENDOT lark.
You brought up slander/libel laws in the UK vs the US. The UK doesn't reject the idea that truth is an absolute defense, instead they embrace the idea that even if you have a public medium, it's still not acceptable to go out and use it against people/companies. If you have a factually based and valid point to make you can generally get away with it. If you are out to sully someone, regardless of the facts, you won't. It's called CIVILIZED, and the US never did figure out what that was all about. Hence our tort system.