[Patents] Re: possible patentability rules and their merits

[Nick@bigfatpanda.fsnet.co.uk (Nick Fleming)]

Bernard,
    Remember me saying one significant change in
the software licencing model would be to change
it to a subscription based service ? Looks like someone
else has had the same idea too.

 http://latimes.com/technology/la-000064605aug09.story

the article's more funny than serious but the following
paragraph stopped me cold :

"Some years ago, the company stopped selling software outright and instead
set up a subscription-based system. Users paid a fee, just like the cable
bill and got to use a Microsoft operating system or Microsoft software, like
the Office suite."

Many a true word spoken in jest it would seem ?

Does anyone have any information related to patents and subscription based
services ??

Regards,

Nick Fleming.