A few downsides to patenting software: 1) A patent requires you to describe how your thing works. Ow anyone can copy your idea. 2) Short of reverse engineerin

A few downsides to patenting software: 1) A patent requires you to describe how your thing works. Ow anyone can copy your idea. 2) Short of reverse engineering someone's executable, how do you know if they are infringing? 3) So you do your patent research and find out someone has a (stupid) patent that your idea infringes on. If you go forward and someone sues you for infringement you are now responsible for triple damages because you knowingly infringed. And believe me, there are lots of incredibly stupid software patents out there that should never have been granted. Just today there was something on HN about IBM getting a patent for the "out of office" email idea.