At 63–75 years, programmable general-purpose computers and networks are so new that it’s still possible to claim the most obvious solution to many problems simp

At 63–75 years, programmable general-purpose computers and networks are so new that it’s still possible to claim the most obvious solution to many problems simply by being first to think about them. USPTO’s bar for what is “obvious” is skewed towards older subjects with a lot more written and indexed prior art for an examiner to cite, and doesn’t weigh likelihood of easy reinvention. And now there’s enough money at stake to trigger a land rush to fence off entire problems using solutions that just don’t merit protection.