Topic: Software Patents

[jverkoey]

This whole topic just plain pisses me off, I've seen countless patents created by large companies about software that is just plain ridiculous.  I really don't think the patent office has any right whatsoever to govern software or anything IT related, because I highly doubt you there's any IT professionals in their staffing.  You've just got the average "I can use word!" person working the patent office and they have no clue what's going on when they go and patent a piece of software.

Some stupid cases I've seen lately:
Apple Is Accused of Violating Software Patent
Creative Has MP3 Player Interface Patent
Nintendo Patents Insanity
Why Bill Gates Wants 3,000 New Patents
Google Patents RSS Advertising
Amazon Seeks Web Services Patent
Microsoft Frowned at for Smiley Patent
The Grinch Who Patented Christmas

It's sickening to know that people are allowed to copyright such generic things.

[Rob]

Not as annoying as when people post in the wrong place

[Rob]

Microsoft Frowned at for Smiley Patent

Hmmm, well if you actually read the patent application (yes, I know I'm sad) you find that they're trying to patent a new emoticon engine, not the smilies themselves.

I'm torn. On one hand companies have a right to protect their inventions, on the other, good point about patent offices software and IT knowledge.

[jverkoey]

Not as annoying as when people post in the wrong place

Sorry bout that

[drakkenkorin]

did creative just patent that technology, or did I just hear about it recently?

if they just patented it, how can they sue, wouldn't apple be covered ex post facto laws?

[Steve]

if they just patented it, how can they sue, wouldn't apple be covered ex post facto laws?

Every law is open to interpretation is it not?

[jverkoey]

did creative just patent that technology, or did I just hear about it recently?

if they just patented it, how can they sue, wouldn't apple be covered ex post facto laws?

Yah, they just patented it a couple days ago.

And technically, Creative's stuff was around before apple's, not sure about the interfaces though, that's what apple has to prove: that they designed the interface first.

[Steve]

watch it will go to court and creative will pull out a note they mailed themselves

[Rob]

Sorry bout that

There was a smiley there...

[Mike]

I really don't think the patent office has any right whatsoever to govern software or anything IT related, because I highly doubt you there's any IT professionals in their staffing.  You've just got the average "I can use word!" person working the patent office and they have no clue what's going on when they go and patent a piece of software.

So you are saying that they shouldn't issue any patents dealing with engines,  batteries, explosive devices, aircraft design, etc?  I highly doubt that they have a person working in the patent office that understands nuclear physics, but they still could issue a patent for something in that field.

Also hate to tell ya but /. is not what I would call an "unbiased" news source.

[jverkoey]

There was a smiley there...

I know, was just apologizing.

[jverkoey]

Also hate to tell ya but /. is not what I would call an "unbiased" news source.

Hah, very, very true.

And about the previous, I'm just saying that they should actually look in to this sort of thing before patenting, because there are plenty of things that get patented that have been around for quite some time....