From steve.probert@patent.gov.uk  Wed Oct 11 08:28:48 2000
Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2000 09:28:48 +0100
From: Steve Probert steve.probert@patent.gov.uk
Subject: [Patents] Some remarks on Vol 1 #284

>That's fine and dandy, now I'm a software engineer, I might release
>something open source or not so free software written by yours truly
>himself, and now, suddenly, I have to be aware of any of the 13'000
>patents available, most of which, even if they pertain to my profession, I
>could'nt even comprehend. (Me non parlare lawyerspeak).

>There's something silly about this.

But the same argument applies with equal force to almost all fields of invention. Following this argument to its logical conclusion would mean that patents (not just software patents) should only be owned by, and enforced against, large companies.  Apart from being a nightmare to implement in practice, this could easily prevent small companies from growing into larger companies.

Steve Probert
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       




