[Patents] Re. Prior Use

[Gregory Aharonian srctran@world.std.com]

>What is happening is that less companies are interested in
>entering the market.

Maybe children in Europe are so scared, but here in America, there
are countless new software startups everyday.  Venture capitalists
need large trucks to carry away all of the business proposals they
get for new software companies.  Are patents are worry?  Sure.
Are companies less interested in the market?  Probably only those
that don't belong in the market anyway because they are turning
out products as crappy as others are patenting.

With regards to Open Source, the biggest problem those companies
face here in America isn't software patents, but rather poor
planning, too rapid expansion, not enough product differentiation,
etc.  For those doing consulting, there is even less worry (though
their clients do have to worry).

But is development being hindered?  NO NO.  Are there less companies
being formed?  NO NO.   Is everyone experiencing the same problems
other patented industries face?  YES YES.

Look what is plaguing the European software industry is not software
patents.  Software patents didn't cause the downfall of Belgium's
L&H, of boo.com, of SAP/BAAN, etc.  Software consulting, open source
or not, in Europe seems to be as alive and well as other European
industries.

And please stop making comments about my ego.  It is insulting, and
frankly you should read the words while looking in a mirror.  But
then maybe insulting is a growth industry in Europe.

Greg Aharonian