Re: [Patents] EuroParl-ordered study to be presented in Paris

["Nick Fleming" <Nick@bigfatpanda.fsnet.co.uk>]

> Lousy advice to anyone trying to exploit their software ideas.  People 
> will look at your ideas in whatever you copyright, change the expression
> of the software (variable names, indenting schemes, order of modules -
> all easily reengineered) and use your ideas without having to pay you
> any money.  Publish your software ideas without patent protection, and
> all you do is help make more consulting money for big companies like IBM.
> You will end up capturing nothing, except a pat on the head from IBM.
> But if you want to be so volunteer for such large companies, I applaud
> your altruism.  
> 
> Greg AHaronian
> 

Greg, I hope you are not implying that patent 
protection offers some kind of defence in the marketplace
against large multinationals.

The patent system has always been skewed in favour
of the larger organisations. It gives them a very real
and large advantage over smaller businesses. Holding
a few measly patents is no defence against
an extensive patent portfolio of a global 
sized company.

Regards,

Nick Fleming.