[Patents] Re: [Patents] Patent problem

[Richard Stallman rms@gnu.org]

    I got a notice that the feature can be used if it can be proven that
    the feature was used (invented?) before the patent's date.

This may be true, for some precise meaning of the word "used".
But you need to be precise about it, if you want to be sure
of the conclusions.

    Software patents are okay

I urge you to look at http://lpf.ai.mit.edu and see the materials
there about software patents, and then reconsider your conclusion.
Software patents are especially dangerous for free software.

    Many patented invents are so simple that it would be a good to have
    patents for from 1 year to 17 (whatever it is) years. And 10+ years
    seems to be too much because of the rapid development nowadays.

The GATT treaty requires patents to last for at least 20 years.  So
the only way to avoid 20-year patents in software is to get rid of
patents in software.