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Before computers, and even currently, you were not able to patent "math". Math was considered "facts", and facts were and are not patentable. So the question
by tombert 3y ago
Before computers, and even currently, you were not able to patent "math". Math was considered "facts", and facts were and are not patentable.
So the question becomes "is a software algorithm closer to math or an invention?". I would personally argue the former as you can mathematically model basically any algorithm with TLA+ or CSP or something, and as such it shouldn't be patentable, but I will acknowledge I'm not a patent lawyer and as such I'm kind of speaking out of my ass.
- dragonwriter 3y ago> Before computers, and even currently, you were not able to patent "math". Well, yes, and that would hvae been a problem if Pythagoras lived when there was a patent system and wanted to patent it. Which one imagines he might have hacked around by avoiding the disclosure of a patent and keeping it as cult knowledge. Because, you know, even without a patent system...