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that patenting system is a sick joke, a cruel mockery of what it was intended for. Being able to patent Morse code, despite the clear existence of prior art is

that patenting system is a sick joke, a cruel mockery of what it was intended for. Being able to patent Morse code, despite the clear existence of prior art is a prime example of that.

WalterBright 2y ago
It's not patenting Morse code. It's patenting adding the capability to a smartphone using a rocker switch. Besides, I'm pretty sure the patent has expired. My motivation on this was simply that I am an inventor, and what's an inventor without a patent here and there? The stuff I invented for D has not been patented.
- Grimblewald 2y ago
  Ok so my problem is, i made an app that lets me write in morse using volume up and volume down on my phone. It fits the bill of your patent. Now, an idea just about anyone with the need would have and could implement readily using exisiting technology in an evening has become a patented thing. Patents are supposed to protect innovators, to encourage public release of innovative ideas. Yet your patent would stifle useful, though in this case not particulalry innovative or broadly useful, tools. what is being protected by your patent, and others like it? An afternoon of thought. Not even a prototype in your patent, just lazy half assed schematics. patents like yours hold back society. Again, not this patent in particular, but the many like it. Just look at patent trolls. Usless dregs of society, making things difficult for true innovators by abusing a system that was supposed to benefit humanity.
  - WalterBright 2y ago
    If you're familiar with my comment history, I'm actually opposed to the patent system, and most of the copyright system. Yes, in the past I made money selling copyrighted software. I continue to write software, making it freely available, and made no attempt to patent the innovations in it. Keep in mind that phones at the time did not have side buttons, the side buttons on my iphone are ergonomically unsuitable for use as a morse key, are in the wrong location for it, and there wasn't an app store then. I've also had many people copy my ideas, steal my software, and claim they invented them and wrote them. It gets a little tiring. I've used a registered copyright to stop some of those claims. Having a patent means I can solidly claim originality. I also hoped someone would see the patent and want to implement it, as I was focused on other things.
    - amy-petrik-214 2y ago
      You will get startup types blatantly ripping you off and stealing your ideas, and it's smiled upon to fight back and shut them down, sure. Conversely a person could start patenting obvious ideas (morse code + cell phone seems like one) and then thousands of people independently arrive at the idea unaware of prior work. So now all that legal paperwork backing meant to fight off the startup type, the dragon, is used on an innocent - he who fights dragons should be careful not to become a dragon himself IMO the patent system here is transformed into a "first person who calls dibs is the winner!" type free for all, and we get professional dib-callers. And the reason why it happens is the content of the patent, the ideation, execution, is all rote simple and not all that innovative.
    - Grimblewald 2y ago
      I appreciate where you're coming from and sorry if my tone comes accross accusatory or like I am attacking you, it is a more general frustration with the patent system, hate the game not the player you know? I am not arguing against the concept of patents either, just that in their modern implementation they are not fit for the purpose they are supposed to have.

that patenting system is a sick joke, a cruel mockery of what it was intended for. Being able to patent Morse code, despite the clear existence of prior art is a prime example of that.

WalterBright 2y ago

It's not patenting Morse code. It's patenting adding the capability to a smartphone using a rocker switch. Besides, I'm pretty sure the patent has expired. My motivation on this was simply that I am an inventor, and what's an inventor without a patent here and there? The stuff I invented for D has not been patented.

Grimblewald 2y ago
Ok so my problem is, i made an app that lets me write in morse using volume up and volume down on my phone. It fits the bill of your patent. Now, an idea just about anyone with the need would have and could implement readily using exisiting technology in an evening has become a patented thing. Patents are supposed to protect innovators, to encourage public release of innovative ideas. Yet your patent would stifle useful, though in this case not particulalry innovative or broadly useful, tools. what is being protected by your patent, and others like it? An afternoon of thought. Not even a prototype in your patent, just lazy half assed schematics. patents like yours hold back society. Again, not this patent in particular, but the many like it. Just look at patent trolls. Usless dregs of society, making things difficult for true innovators by abusing a system that was supposed to benefit humanity.
- WalterBright 2y ago
  If you're familiar with my comment history, I'm actually opposed to the patent system, and most of the copyright system. Yes, in the past I made money selling copyrighted software. I continue to write software, making it freely available, and made no attempt to patent the innovations in it. Keep in mind that phones at the time did not have side buttons, the side buttons on my iphone are ergonomically unsuitable for use as a morse key, are in the wrong location for it, and there wasn't an app store then. I've also had many people copy my ideas, steal my software, and claim they invented them and wrote them. It gets a little tiring. I've used a registered copyright to stop some of those claims. Having a patent means I can solidly claim originality. I also hoped someone would see the patent and want to implement it, as I was focused on other things.
  - amy-petrik-214 2y ago
    You will get startup types blatantly ripping you off and stealing your ideas, and it's smiled upon to fight back and shut them down, sure. Conversely a person could start patenting obvious ideas (morse code + cell phone seems like one) and then thousands of people independently arrive at the idea unaware of prior work. So now all that legal paperwork backing meant to fight off the startup type, the dragon, is used on an innocent - he who fights dragons should be careful not to become a dragon himself IMO the patent system here is transformed into a "first person who calls dibs is the winner!" type free for all, and we get professional dib-callers. And the reason why it happens is the content of the patent, the ideation, execution, is all rote simple and not all that innovative.
  - Grimblewald 2y ago
    I appreciate where you're coming from and sorry if my tone comes accross accusatory or like I am attacking you, it is a more general frustration with the patent system, hate the game not the player you know? I am not arguing against the concept of patents either, just that in their modern implementation they are not fit for the purpose they are supposed to have.