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A Generation of Software Patents Examined
pieterh writes "Boston University's James Bessen has published a landmark study [abstract; full paper available at the link, free of charge] on a generation of software patents. Looking at almost 20 years of software patents, he finds 'that most software firms still do not patent, most software patents are obtained by a few large firms in the software industry or in other industries, and the risk of litigation from software patents continues to increase dramatically. Given these findings, it is hard to conclude that software patents have provided a net social benefit in the software industry.' Not that this surprises anyone actually innovating in software."
The current case of LodSys (Google it or search on SlashDot) suing small iOS app developers and individuals is one example that little people can get in big trouble because of software patents.
That's because his argument, as told to the Court, sucked. He wrote about how he botched it afterwards.
It doesn't mean much now, it's built for the future.
To slashdotters, this may be "duh" science, but it's really important to have this on paper when we talk to judges and legislators. Otherwise, we're left explaining the problems and hoping that the legislator will agree that our logic is "obviously" correct.
Bessen also co-authored Patent Failure with Michael Meurer and a previous study An Empirical Look at Software Patents, along with Robert Hunt.
http://en.swpat.org/wiki/Studies_on_economics_and_innovation
http://en.swpat.org/wiki/James_Bessen
http://en.swpat.org/wiki/An_Empirical_Look_at_Software_Patents
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