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This is actually insane. If I know it correct you cannot patent discoveries. I always find it funny that people are patenting algorithms. Come to think of it, i
by rick_2047 16y ago
This is actually insane. If I know it correct you cannot patent discoveries. I always find it funny that people are patenting algorithms. Come to think of it, it is indeed a discovery. Even addition has an algorithm (x*n = add x, n number of times). Imagine if someone patents multiplication and his son does not get it in his math class he will just walk up to him and say "Hey dad can you ban my school from teaching multiplication we own it anyways why give it away to everyone?"
- loup-vaillant 16y agoThen, you may want to consider any invention as a discovery: the discovery of a mean to some end. Now, mathematics had this debate a long time ago: some viewed it as something you discover, others viewed it as something you build. Those two philosophies spur different ways of doing mathematics. Those who viewed mathematics as being build, for instance, tended to reject the `∀P ¬¬P = P` principle. Also note that neither side really won the argument. Regarding patents, the two philosophies obviously differ: the discoverers will unconditionally reject patents, while the builders could embrace it. So, for your argument to work, you'd first have to convince everyone that math is indeed discovered.