Software Patents Are Crumbling, Thanks To the Supreme Court

walterbyrd writes: In June, when the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a software patent, many in the tech industry hoped it would be the beginning of sweeping changes to how the patent system handles software. Just a few months later, lower courts are making it happen. Quoting Vox: "By my count there have been 10 court rulings on the patentability of software since the Supreme Court's decision — including six that were decided this month. Every single one of them has led to the patent being invalidated. This doesn't necessarily mean that all software patents are in danger — these are mostly patents that are particularly vulnerable to challenge under the new Alice precedent. But it does mean that the pendulum of patent law is now clearly swinging in an anti-patent direction. Every time a patent gets invalidated, it strengthens the bargaining position of every defendant facing a lawsuit from a patent troll." Meanwhile, the Washington Post reports on alleged corruption in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Comments

Double-edged sword

[Anonymous Coward]

...but it decreases the incentive for people to make innovative software

Re:Double-edged sword

[mi]

GNOME 3 is very innovative, and is built with no patent incentives.

Grandparent didn't say, the incentives are eliminated by the ruling. Only that there are fewer now... Still enough for GNOME 3 to be developed, obviously, but, possibly, not as well as it could be.

Wails of the tormented

[Just Some Guy]

The best part is hearing the lamentations of software patent attorneys and rejoicing in the sounds of their despair.