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It depends on your definition of "new technology", but I would say it's almost certainly not true. In a world where electric coffee grinders exist, and batteri

It depends on your definition of "new technology", but I would say it's almost certainly not true. In a world where electric coffee grinders exist, and batteries exist, is a battery powered electric coffee grinder a new technology? Or just a new product. I'd say the latter. There's certainly new software technology being produced every day, but much less than there are new software products being launched every day. Yes this is true for other forms of technology too, but no, I don't think software alone outbalances technology being developed in all other fields combined, including materials science, semiconductor, medical, photonics, robotics, drones, power electronics, microscopy, machining, metrology, renewable energy, telecommunications, etc... I think it's just an indicator of a bubble perspective from someone who probably mostly interacts with software developers or follows software technology.

Spivak 7y ago
I don't think the idea "battery powered coffee grinder" is patentable but why shouldn't the unique details of the implementation be covered? Assuming that patents were actually useful as method of sharing useful designs with the world wouldn't you want to know how to overcome the engineering challenges?
- jbay808 7y ago
  I agree it probably isn't patentable. It's an analogy that a lot of software tech companies these days can make a good business by putting some frameworks together with a database and solve real problems that used to be solved by other tools, and make good money and valuable products in the process. But depending on your opinion of battery powered coffee grinders, it's not necessarily new technology.
  - freejazz 7y ago
    I'd love to see a patent as you describe that has not been found invalid in a PTAB or Art. III court proceeding
    - jbay808 7y ago
      When did I say I'm describing a patent? In fact I specifically said that category of new product is usually not patentable. I'm responding to the below claim: > most new technology is just software
    - Morpholemew 7y ago
      "Battery powered coffee grinder" but worse: "battery powered drill, but with Li instead of NiMH" Milwaukee Tool v. Snap On (lots of commentary, here's one example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9CLvU5-FRo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9CLvU5-FRo ) On the software side, AFAIK the infamous "One Click" patent was never held up in court, but companies had to spend significant money defending against lawsuits based on it (and therefore the only possible victory was pyrrhic).

Spivak 7y ago

I don't think the idea "battery powered coffee grinder" is patentable but why shouldn't the unique details of the implementation be covered? Assuming that patents were actually useful as method of sharing useful designs with the world wouldn't you want to know how to overcome the engineering challenges?

jbay808 7y ago
I agree it probably isn't patentable. It's an analogy that a lot of software tech companies these days can make a good business by putting some frameworks together with a database and solve real problems that used to be solved by other tools, and make good money and valuable products in the process. But depending on your opinion of battery powered coffee grinders, it's not necessarily new technology.
- freejazz 7y ago
  I'd love to see a patent as you describe that has not been found invalid in a PTAB or Art. III court proceeding
  - jbay808 7y ago
    When did I say I'm describing a patent? In fact I specifically said that category of new product is usually not patentable. I'm responding to the below claim: > most new technology is just software
  - Morpholemew 7y ago
    "Battery powered coffee grinder" but worse: "battery powered drill, but with Li instead of NiMH" Milwaukee Tool v. Snap On (lots of commentary, here's one example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9CLvU5-FRo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9CLvU5-FRo ) On the software side, AFAIK the infamous "One Click" patent was never held up in court, but companies had to spend significant money defending against lawsuits based on it (and therefore the only possible victory was pyrrhic).