[Patents] RE: Pro sw patents == Illegal

[Robert.Bielik@gyrosmicro.com (Robert Bielik)]

> From: "Ronald J Riley" <rjriley@rjriley.com>
> <<There is no good reason for honest patent professionals to=20
> tolerate the
> parasitic acitvity of some asocials who are invading the field of pure
> abstraction and degrading the software industry, sucking away its
> lifeblood by turning it into a field for their litigation business.>>
>=20
> Such a telling disclosure.  You are admitting that you think=20
> that others
> inventions should be socialized for your and your colleagues benefit.
>=20

I don't know but I have a hard time deducing that from Pilch's
statement, but
I suppose that a certain state of mind is needed for that.

> You Have several options.
>=20
> 1) Wait until the patent expires, and then use the invention for free.
>=20

20 years... right. After that time, the patent is useless anyway.

> 2) Purchase a license.

In case company A vs. company B where there is a strong competition this
is not
an option. The company with the patents simply want the other to die,
thus creating
a bigger market for themselves. And litigation processes are perfect for
this.

> 3) Infringe the patent and run the risk that someone will sue=20
> you.  If you do
> so, do not be surprised if it costs you much more (three to=20
> ten times) than it
> would have if you had simply licensed the invention.

The perfect way to kill a company. And hurt progress.

> 4) Invent, if you can, an equally good alternative way of=20
> doing the same job,
> and dedicate that invention to society, thereby demonstrating=20
> both your skills
> and principles.

But the patents cover the problem, not the solution, so you CAN'T come
up with
an equal solution without "infringing"!

> I suspect that if you were inventive that you would quickly=20
> become greedy and
> asocial, file your own patents, and spend the rest of your=20
> life adjusting
> attitudes of those who try to steal your work.

Not all people are greedy. I presume you're speaking in terms of
yourself ?

Robert Bielik
Inventive Software Engineer