It seems to me that the best way to abolish patents is over time. We are currently granting 20 year patents. Next year we grant 19-year patents, etc, etc. Pa

It seems to me that the best way to abolish patents is over time. We are currently granting 20 year patents. Next year we grant 19-year patents, etc, etc. Past (and current) investors can capitalize on their 'investments', and the USPO and related services (attorneys) have a chance to scale down gradually. Over time there would be diminishing returns on filing a patent, and players entering the world of software patents are faced with exactly the same world that they now face, except over time things look better.