3 ms·

This is a random veto power with a fixed lifespan in exchange ofr which the design is published. Trade secrets were an ongoing disaster. We're still trying to f

This is a random veto power with a fixed lifespan in exchange ofr which the design is published. Trade secrets were an ongoing disaster. We're still trying to figure out how Stradivarius made violins, for example. Yes, stupid things get patented. Yes, the system is corrupt. But don't assume some other "simple" system or non system will have no downside.

andrewaylett 14y ago
The trouble is, it's not the same: Software Patents protect the design of the idea not the implementation. Even after the patent has expired, you still don't get to see how the product actually works. Also, the implementation is protected by copyright -- it seems unfair to give software double-protection.
bcoates 14y ago
Having tried to read patents to gain insight into how something worked, I'm confident that if Stradivarius had written valid patents for his methods we still wouldn't be able to reproduce it.
dlitz 14y ago
> We're still trying to figure out how Stradivarius made violins, for example. We're actually not trying to figure out how to make violins that sound just as good: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stradivarius&oldid=522654141#Comparisons_in_sound_quality http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stradivarius&o... Also, Stallman is specifically talking about software, not manufacturing specialized devices.
- Tloewald 14y ago
  A typical specialized device today is largely driven by software. To contribute to this debate you need to understand this. For example: most musical instruments today are electronic. If I build a guitar amplifier out of vacuum tubes, Stallman will let me patent it, but if I build a high tech amplifier with digital preprocessing to simulate the behavior of any one of a large number of old vacuum tube amplifiers etc. then no patents for me.

3 ms·

This is a random veto power with a fixed lifespan in exchange ofr which the design is published. Trade secrets were an ongoing disaster. We're still trying to f

by Tloewald 14y ago

andrewaylett 14y ago
The trouble is, it's not the same: Software Patents protect the design of the idea not the implementation. Even after the patent has expired, you still don't get to see how the product actually works. Also, the implementation is protected by copyright -- it seems unfair to give software double-protection.
bcoates 14y ago
Having tried to read patents to gain insight into how something worked, I'm confident that if Stradivarius had written valid patents for his methods we still wouldn't be able to reproduce it.
dlitz 14y ago
> We're still trying to figure out how Stradivarius made violins, for example. We're actually not trying to figure out how to make violins that sound just as good: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stradivarius&oldid=522654141#Comparisons_in_sound_quality http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stradivarius&o... Also, Stallman is specifically talking about software, not manufacturing specialized devices.
- Tloewald 14y ago
  A typical specialized device today is largely driven by software. To contribute to this debate you need to understand this. For example: most musical instruments today are electronic. If I build a guitar amplifier out of vacuum tubes, Stallman will let me patent it, but if I build a high tech amplifier with digital preprocessing to simulate the behavior of any one of a large number of old vacuum tube amplifiers etc. then no patents for me.