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Why Software Patents Are a Joke — Literally

Posted by Soulskill on from the so-funny-i-forgot-to-laugh dept.

eburnette writes "A former Sun/Oracle employee explains how developers created patents in an unofficial contest to see who could get the goofiest patent through the system. James Gosling said, '... we got sued, and lost. The penalty was huge. Nearly put us out of business. We survived, but to help protect us from future suits we went on a patenting binge. Even though we had a basic distaste for patents, the game is what it is, and patents are essential in modern corporations, if only as a defensive measure. There was even an unofficial competition to see who could get the goofiest patent through the system. My entry wasn't nearly the goofiest.' Now Oracle is using patents from the same folks as the basis for its lawsuit against Google."

6 of 311 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Yep by sznupi · · Score: 4, Funny

    Why do you hate their right to be successful?

    --
    One that hath name thou can not otter
  2. Let's apply for patent on deep breathing by HollyMolly-1122 · · Score: 1, Funny

    Athletes will pay first...

  3. Re:This has nothing to do with software patents by melikamp · · Score: 1, Funny

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  4. Re:To answer the proxy wars question by houghi · · Score: 5, Funny

    Theoretically you could, but practically you won't just by coincidence write a significant number of lines of code the same way someone else did.

    Apparently you have no idea how many monkeys I have. Unfortunately they keep coming up with Hamlet and not any kind of code.

    --
    Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
  5. Re:Destructive memes at its best by jpate · · Score: 4, Funny

    over my dead body!

  6. Re:Why? by homotron · · Score: 1, Funny

    How are patents anti-capitalism when the very basis of capitalism is protection or private property? Is IP not property? Capitalists are very much in favor of private property and the forces necessary to help preserve what is yours (courts,police,army).