5 ms·

If IBM didn't think that it would be awarded patents for work like this, why would they bother to do the research in the first place?

• Karunamon 15y ago
  Surely you don't think the only reason people do research and advance science is due to hope of compensation?
  • adrianN 15y ago
    That might not be the only reason for people, for companies however it would be silly to spend money without hoping to get it back somehow.
    • Karunamon 15y ago
      You don't need patents to create and execute big ideas. As a company or anything else. As I said, this is a dream (and a pretty silly one at that). I can still hope though
      • adrianN 15y ago
        The alternative to patents is secrecy. I think the patent system was originally introduced because it was deemed superior to make ideas public, but limit their commercial usability.
        • Karunamon 15y ago
          Problem being that the patent system (much like the copyright system) is irrevocably hosed.
• nickik 15y ago
  Yes, without patents nobody is ever gone invent anything again.