From srctran@world.std.com  Thu Jan 18 21:57:22 2001
Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2001 16:57:22 -0500 (EST)
From: Gregory Aharonian srctran@world.std.com
Subject: [Patents] the burden factor in soft vs hard

Hartmut put words in my mouth:
>Since it is evident (and even you don't dispute) that software patents
>have in general no merit for the promotion of progress, ......

Since you don't bother to read what I write, let me make it clear.
My view is that whatever the merits of software patents in promoting
or not promoting progress, it is no different from any other field of
technology.  There is nothing special about software patents - they
share all of the same benefits and problems of patents in other fields
of technology.  So attacks on software patents ARE attacks on the
patent system as a whole - you fool no one, especially with the lack
of empirical economic evidence for many of your accusations.

Are there problems with software patents?  Yes, I have been arguing that
for seven years.  But to other technology areas of patenting have these
problems?  Again, yes.  Are these problems resolvable?  Yes, again for
software and other fields of technology.  So are there grounds to
discriminate legally against software patents?  No.

Greg Aharonian




