Also note the inventors of VisiCalc failed to patent it for various reasons[1]. This led to quick improvements of the spreadsheet by Lotus, Borland and Microsof

Also note the inventors of VisiCalc failed to patent it for various reasons[1]. This led to quick improvements of the spreadsheet by Lotus, Borland and Microsoft. If it had been patented, it is unlikely innovation would have been so fast with VisiCalc having a monopoly. [1] http://www.bricklin.com/patenting.htm http://www.bricklin.com/patenting.htm