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Let's not forget that this is Carmack we're talking about. The fact that one of the best 3D graphics programmers in the industry has invented something independ
by ordinary 15y ago
Let's not forget that this is Carmack we're talking about. The fact that one of the best 3D graphics programmers in the industry has invented something independently does not tell us much. This thing happens in science all the time and not seldomly for things that are far from trivial.
Software patents are ridiculous, but not because (or only if) they're trivial.
- krig 15y agoTriviality is supposed to be a test case for the validity of a patent. I think you can make a reasonable argument that if the first few users of a technology all independently invent a technique, that technique should be considered trivial in the context of that technology. I don't think it's necessary to deify Carmack, either. He is an extraordinary programmer, but he is not super-human.
- nailer 15y agoIsn't the test 'an engineer sufficiently skilled in the art' ? Carmack would qualify as 'an engineer sufficiently skilled in the art'. That he's one of the most skilled wouldn't be relevant.