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Another example why software patents don't really work. Because most thing software patents cover are not really inventions but ideas. Also the written code is
by tehabe 8y ago
Another example why software patents don't really work. Because most thing software patents cover are not really inventions but ideas. Also the written code is already protected via copyright. That is the difference to a eg. wind mill, the blue prints are only protected by a patent, not by copyright. And it effects only the implementation.
- blattimwind 8y agoBlue prints are absolutely covered by copyright.
- jonathanyc 8y agoI think that’s what they meant. See “only.”
- pbhjpbhj 8y agoCan you explain further, that doesn't make sense.
- PebblesRox 8y agoI think the idea is that the blueprint’s copywrite doesn’t give sufficient protection to keep someone from using the invention (since they can reverse-engineer based on the actual machine). Only a patent can actually protect in this case.
- rhizome 8y agoDo you mean the "only" that's followed by "not by copyright?"
- jonathanyc 8y agoYes, an almost universal trait of human languages is that they include redundancies for error correction. Reread the post the OP is replying to and then read the OP’s comment.
- rhizome 8y agoThanks, Sheldon.
- jonathanyc 8y agoSeriously, let me know if I can help you understand—I’m not sure why you are getting so upset about this. I apologize if I’ve somehow got you on a bad day and if this is not your usual self.
- tehabe 8y agoI mistyped, I wanted to say, that you can create your own blueprints by studying a machine. But when your invention is patented this implementation is protected. But in software it is not about the implementation (because that's already protected via copyright) it is about the idea behind the implementation. Which even prohibits different implementations.
- monochromatic 8y agoWhat’s the difference between an invention and an idea?
- pbhjpbhj 8y agoAn invention is the implementation of an idea, it can in theory be made. An idea can't be made. A faster than light drive is an idea. A detailed description of a working physical device that can propel a vehicle faster than light; with sufficient detail that experts can make the device from the description is a potentially patentable invention.
- ajnin 8y agoAn invention is an actual thing that implements the idea.
- pmontra 8y agoIt can be a kind of gray area. Leonardo da Vinci had the idea of a human powered flying machine. I pretty sure nobody would say that his sketches are an invention. On a second thought, there are so many people around, probably somebody would claim it. http://www.flyingmachines.org/davi.html http://www.flyingmachines.org/davi.html The South Hampton University eventually made it happen centuries later in 1961. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SUMPAC https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SUMPAC Did they invent it or "just" built it? Probably they could patent parts of the final airplane. I didn't check if they did.