[Patents] myth that "patents encourage technical innovation"?

[Justin.Wilson@alpheus.com (Justin Wilson)]

FYI =

An interesting article from 'EE Times' regarding a panel discussion at IP=
/SoC 2001 (see below for more details on =

IP/Soc). According to the article, the moderator of the panel (chief EDA =
analyst Gary Smith from Dataquest Inc) =

hammered the 'myth' that "patents encourage technical innovation": =

        http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB20010328S0002 =


Extract from the text posted on TechWeb: =

<Start Of Extract> =

=2E.. Smith said the electronics industry has become too serious about en=
forcing patents, and has thus stifled =

innovation. =


"In the '80s it used to be that most of these disputes were settled quick=
ly and quietly behind the scenes and only went =

to trial if it was a completely blatant ripoff," said Smith. "That just i=
sn't the case any longer." =


Companies these days must worry that their new product innovations may vi=
olate patents they didn't know were held by =

other electronics companies or, worse, by law firms waiting to sue patent=
 violators, Smith said. ... =

<End Of Extract> =



I'd be interested in hearing more detail on Smith's comments, and on the =
reaction from the conference audience and =

panelists. I'd particularly like to know whether Gary Smith's stated opin=
ion is backed up by detailed research that he, =

and/or Dataquest, have done. =


IP/SoC (Intellectual Property/System on Chip) is a technical conference t=
argeted at engineers and managers involved in =

system-on-chip application development. This year it was held from March =
19-23 in Santa Clara, CA. In their own words =

(taken from the conference website): =

'IP/SoC 2001 is the premier electronic design conference and exhibition f=
or designers who are involved in =

System-on-Chip design using Intellectual Property.' =



Justin =