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Software Patent Reform Happening Now

Posted by timothy on from the advancing-the-useful-arts-and-sausages dept.

Jim Hall writes "Many of us in IT recognize that software patents are a bad idea — you can patent just about anything if you put "on a computer" at the end of it. But now we can finally do something about it. Congress is considering the America Invents Act — your Representatives are very interested in hearing from you. Also, the USPTO is inviting public comments to change the system (you need to file by June 29, 2011.) I've written a blog post about software patents with more, starting with a primer of copyright and patents."

1 of 130 comments (clear)

  1. Truly Uninformed Comments by MikeD215 · · Score: 0, Troll

    I cannot believe the number of truly uninformed comments in this post.

    There are those who believe all software patents should be invalidated because they are merely ideas. One of the commentators at Ipwatchdog gives a great refutation of this assertion: "...you clearly do not understand computers and software if you believe they are abstract ideas. The arguments against software patents have a fundamental flaw. As any electrical engineer knows and software developer should know, solutions to problems implemented in software can also be realized in hardware, i.e., electronic circuits. The main reason for choosing a software solution is the ease in implementing changes, the main reason for choosing a hardware solution is speed of processing. Therefore, a time critical solution is more likely to be implemented in hardware. While a solution that requires the ability to add features easily will be implemented in software. Software is just a method of converting a general purpose electronic circuit (computer) into a application specific electronic circuit. As a result, to be intellectually consistent those people against software patents also have to be against patents for electronic circuits."

    If you have a great idea for an information technology system and this system is novel and useful you should be able to patent it.

    The problem of junk patents can be solved by better processes at the USPTO. Getting rid of all software patents because there are junk patents is literally, "throwing the baby out with the bathwater."

    You can be certain that any type of "reform" that comes out of the current corrupt system in Washington will favor large corporations, because they are the ones who can most effectively bribe our politicians.