From Robert.Bielik@gyrosmicro.com  Wed Nov 29 07:51:42 2000
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 08:51:42 +0100
From: Robert Bielik Robert.Bielik@gyrosmicro.com
Subject: [Patents] Hardware/software codesign

Ed Avis wrote:

>It's an impressive list of tools for designing hardware, but it doesn't
>say anything about whether patents on computer programs are of benefit
>to society.

Which also is the ONLY valid consideration whether patents on SW should be
or
not be. The argument that because patents on mechanical devices are granted,
sw
patents should likewise be granted is the classical "sandbox" argument: "If
you have it,
I must have it also". Mr Aharonian as well as other proponents fail to
answer the
one and ONLY question: IS SW PATENTS BENEFICIAL TO SOCIETY ???

Robert Bielik
Senior Software Engineer
Gyros Microlabs





