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That seems much more like an idea than an invention to me.

• josho 5y ago
  That’s all an invention really is. At least according to the patent office. Here’s another example. Wouldn’t it be neat if the tree control in your file browser could have an icon that represents more than 1 file. That idea may or may not have much value. But you better not implement that idea because IBM has a patent on it. Patents in software rarely meet the bar that most people have of inventions.
  • markhahn 5y ago
    unfortunately, the legitimacy of a patent is only determined by contention. the simple elegance of the following has been lost: "To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries."