[Patents] Some remarks on Vol 1 #284

[Steve Probert steve.probert@patent.gov.uk]

>The whole thing is about software patents; I'm not aware of any other
>field where this is that much of a problem. 

You might be before too long.  The problem (?) in this area arises because 
the software industry is still relatively young, and because (in general) it 
has been slow to realise that patents are available to protect certain 
inventions in the programming field (eg. those that produce, or are capable 
of producing, a technical effect).  Consequently programmers have 
traditionally not been concerned about whether their programs infringe a 
patent.  We may see a similar reaction from other sectors if some of the 
currently excluded fields (eg business methods) are brought into the patent 
system.

Steve Probert