4 ms·
That site looks like it is aimed at physical products ("model", "manufacture") rather than software. Physical products are much easier to knock off than evolvin
by murrayh 19y ago
That site looks like it is aimed at physical products ("model", "manufacture") rather than software. Physical products are much easier to knock off than evolving, quality software; so IP protection and the like are probably more important.
- TheTarquin 19y agoI couldn't agree more. I think, in fact, that a great deal of the current confusion and chaos surrounding software IP issues can be traced to exactly this important distinction. "Piracy? That's stealing software." Well, no, not exactly, since no physical instance is stolen. Physical things can be stolen. There are analogies in the software world, but they're usually imperfect. "Let's patent our software widgit!" Again, kind of misses the mark. I mean, would it make sense for me to say: "Sweet, I'm gonna patent my English essay!"? Anyway, I could rant on about this. Just a round about way of saying I think you're right, murrayh, that the physical/virtual distinction is a critical one and that it gets overlooked, both here and generally.
- bayareaguy 19y agoMany companies use software/business model patents like Saddam used WMDs - as a way to threaten without actually deploying the skill or resources they don't have. Unfortunately it's usually a bad business decision to fight the system head on so only the worst intimidators ever encounter resistance.
- TheTarquin 19y agoFair point.