[Patents] No point in everybody agreeing in a discussion

[a2092@serdis.dis.ulpgc.es (ESTEBAN MANCHADO VELAZQUEZ)]

Hello all. First of all, please take into account I'm only a programmer, not a
lawyer or IP expert. I've read some articles on patents, and this list for 
some
months (perhaps a year), but... that it is, and nothing more :-)

Gregory Aharonian escribió el Mon, 02 Apr:
> Once again there is nothing special about software - stop worshipping
> it.

        Well, I think software *is* different that physical objects. In
software, a patent is a (many times silly) idea that can be used in
programs, not useful programs (or part thereof) per se. Many times, that ideas
are (almost) *needed* in a defined field, say, the infamous Amazon one-click
patent.

        Perhaps you could draw a parallel between sw patents and physical
objects patents if software patents where applied on sw *components*
(like a defined class interface), that you could use to "build up"
your application, instead of an idea to program an algorithm. In that
case, perhaps I would support you. Probably it would make sense: you have
an awesome design idea that a lot of programs could use, like a black
box, like a service, and you don't want anyone (well, I don't see why,
but...) to implement your own design idea. Programmers could use that
class or design their programs in other ways. Naturally, the same problems
with obvious patents would still exist.

        However, while sw patents are applied on algorithm ideas in such an
irrational manner, I don't think they are a good idea at all.

-- 
Esteban Manchado Velázquez, 'ZoSo' - Facultad de Informática (ULPGC)
zoso@ulpgc.es - http://sopa.dis.ulpgc.es/~a2092/