Re: [Patents] Washington Times: Internet Patents Divide Industry

[Seth Johnson <seth.johnson@RealMeasures.dyndns.org>]

Hartmut Pilch wrote:
> 
> > You own the patent not the idea. The problem is that immaterial property
> > carry the idea that you own "the idea", not "an exclusive right on the
> > idea".
> 
> You own the right to exclude others from something, e.g. from the use of
> an idea or the use of a piece of land.

Note the difference between "exclusive right" meaning "the right to exclude"
and "exclusive right" meaning a particular right "exclusively for the
author."

Seth


> 
> The question whether I own the land or the idea itself is too vague to me.
> It reminds me of McCarthy saying that she is not making software as such
> patentable.

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