Patents are state enforced monopoly rights, let's be clear about that. In what circumstances do we want to have monopolies doled out, even timed ones? Even in

Patents are state enforced monopoly rights, let's be clear about that. In what circumstances do we want to have monopolies doled out, even timed ones? Even in the classic image of the sole inventor who does something shrewd but ends up with nothing because he didn't patent it; is it really the best outcome to have this one person get rich while lives are lost and technological progress of society slowed because the monopoly pricing imposed is prohibitive for all but the wealthy? The best scenario for a patent is as a subsidy for inventions that could not or would not exist without very substantial capital investment. Software methods by and large do not fall in that category.