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Even if you are against software patents, you have to file them unless you want other people to use them against you. For example, if Facebook had patented this
by briansmith 18y ago
Even if you are against software patents, you have to file them unless you want other people to use them against you. For example, if Facebook had patented this technique then Google wouldn't be able to use it without licensing it from Facebook, or spending a ton of money to dig up prior art.
- teamonkey 18y agoSurely all they need to protect themselves is publish a paper outlining the method into the public domain?
- Hexstream 18y agoIn a world where there's no crazy-ass bullshitters who spread their disease shamelessly even if don't have an ounce of legitimacy? Yes.
- sfg 18y agoI think its more about building a patent arsenal so that when other large software companies think about enforcing a patent against Google they will get scared off due to the risk of a counter action.
- esja 18y agoTrue, but you can't get to "no patents" via "more patents". If Google are genuinely against software patents, they should not participate, and fight them by other means, including entering "patent disarmament" agreements with other large companies. Organisations change, and the Google of tomorrow will probably be riddled with machiavellians and sociopaths, who consider the growing arsenal of software patents quite useful.