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Developing an algorithm doesn't generally cost hundreds of millions. Developing a drug and taking it all the way through clinical trials easily can. I think pat
by tjmc 14y ago
Developing an algorithm doesn't generally cost hundreds of millions. Developing a drug and taking it all the way through clinical trials easily can. I think patents make sense for some sectors. Software just isn't one of them.
- zabar 14y agoI think cost is just part of it. There is also the fact that for lots of things, software are being part of an ecosystem where people come to the same solutions naturally. Think about the "swipe to unlock", when the only thing you have to interact is a touch screen, it's not like there is lots of different possibilities. At that point patents become harmfull because it blocks other people from making progress and having competition in a given ecosystem. Drugs just don't have the same collision of solutions problem.
- lloeki 14y ago> Think about the "swipe to unlock", when the only thing you have to interact is a touch screen, it's not like there is lots of different possibilities. And this gets even more ridiculous when all you have to do to work around this is swipe inside a circle instead of on a straight line.
- chongli 14y agoPatents work for protecting the investment in development and clinical trials, sure, but do they work optimally? Are there better ways to finance these processes? Keep in mind that the cost way pay for these patents is a dramatically higher price for life-saving (or life-improving) treatments. Could we not cut out the middle-man and redirect a portion of those higher costs to fund research and clinical trials directly (i.e. in the form of taxes)?