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We don't want a different system. We want no system at all. How's that so hard to grasp? Every single proposal to "fix" patents so far either involves fighting

We don't want a different system. We want no system at all. How's that so hard to grasp? Every single proposal to "fix" patents so far either involves fighting bureaucracy with even more bureaucracy (that's suuuure gonna work out) or are based on the naive assertion that a shorter evil is somehow a lesser evil. People need to acknowledge already that the patent system is not just a little broken, it's fundamentally broken to its very core. You can band-aid it all you want, it won't fix the inherent problem, and that is and always was the paradoxical claim that slowing down progress will somehow lead to more progress, as well as the utterly illogical assertion that you can, in any way, own abstract concepts. I completely agree with iwwr: don't be afraid to take the "radical" stance for the sake of a twisted form of political correctness. If something is bullshit, then say so, and demand it be stopped. Not weasel around trying to appease the people who profit from the status quo. Patents are bullshit - the only good patent is a nonexistent patent. Period. So demand that we get rid of this impediment to mankind.

DannyBee 14y ago
I think you missed the real question, so let me rephrase. It's not hard to grasp as an abstract concept, and in general it's a concept I mostly agree with. What i'm trying to grasp why you think this "blow up the world" will work as an effective strategy to get there, instead of "incrementally destroy the system". You are trying to fight a political fight here, and "radical stances" rarely work well there. If you are going to "Demand we get rid of this impediment to mankind", expect to never get rid of it. Change doesn't happen by screaming about how bad things are, and taking radical stances, change happens by doing something about it, be it legislative lobbying or otherwise.
- SoftwareMaven 14y ago
  Actually, it's valuable to have both (the radical as an anchor, the moderate to define a path), as long as they don't spend so much time fighting each other that the real goal never occurs.
- slowpoke 14y ago
  The more people take the "radical" stance, the less radical it becomes (relative to the status quo). That's my whole point. So stop bickering about how we'll never get anything done with demands for abolition - demand it be done, and tell others to do the same. It's that simple.
hackinthebochs 14y ago
Not all of us think abolishing all software patents is the solution here. Don't think the entire industry agrees with you. Perhaps in the silicon-valley-startup-bubble, but that's about it.

DannyBee 14y ago

I think you missed the real question, so let me rephrase. It's not hard to grasp as an abstract concept, and in general it's a concept I mostly agree with. What i'm trying to grasp why you think this "blow up the world" will work as an effective strategy to get there, instead of "incrementally destroy the system". You are trying to fight a political fight here, and "radical stances" rarely work well there. If you are going to "Demand we get rid of this impediment to mankind", expect to never get rid of it. Change doesn't happen by screaming about how bad things are, and taking radical stances, change happens by doing something about it, be it legislative lobbying or otherwise.

SoftwareMaven 14y ago
Actually, it's valuable to have both (the radical as an anchor, the moderate to define a path), as long as they don't spend so much time fighting each other that the real goal never occurs.
slowpoke 14y ago
The more people take the "radical" stance, the less radical it becomes (relative to the status quo). That's my whole point. So stop bickering about how we'll never get anything done with demands for abolition - demand it be done, and tell others to do the same. It's that simple.

hackinthebochs 14y ago

Not all of us think abolishing all software patents is the solution here. Don't think the entire industry agrees with you. Perhaps in the silicon-valley-startup-bubble, but that's about it.