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You are changing the subject, patent trolls are a totally different matter. Here, we have an example of a company that is knowingly copying something that exis

You are changing the subject, patent trolls are a totally different matter. Here, we have an example of a company that is knowingly copying something that exists instead of coming up with their own solution to the problem, so I'm claiming that in this particular example, software patents are encouraging innovation. The company in question is simply choosing the easy way out of copying instead of innovating.

shmerl 12y ago
> You are changing the subject, patent trolls are a totally different matter. Patent abuser can even produce something useful. But if the patent is bad (obvious, abstract, claims a function, etc.) then such producing entity can ban all kind of competition which should exist because that thing should not be patentable in the first place. Because of that, term "troll" can be extended to any abuser. Not necessarily NPE. Even PE one. Copying is a natural thing in many cases. Preventing copying by patenting abstract ideas is crooked and should not be allowed. Not to mention cases, when some things were developed independently (so obviously not copied), but still are banned by patents.
CamperBob2 12y ago
Also, the glaziers in your town will profit if I drive down your street throwing bricks through windows. That doesn't mean that any economic value is being created, of course.
stephen_g 12y ago
> Here, we have an example of a company that is knowingly copying something that exists No we aren't. Not sure how you got that idea. The patents in question are for small and obvious methods that is required for the larger product. What you are saying is sort of like saying that somebody who invented the motor car is just copying something that already exists if someone else had a patent for the ball bearing. Innovation requires building on things that already exist. It would be delusional to think anything is completely original and thought of from scratch.
netcan 12y ago
Every piece of software is copying hundreds of little "somethings that exist". The registration form uses a captcha to prevent bot registrations? The user is emailed with a link with a secret code that when clicked, verifies they control that email address. The IP address used to make the web requests are recorded (using a computer) and are later used to infer the users physical location from it. A webpage includes a map with a dot in places where users registered. The size of the dot depends on the number of users. Which of the above is an invention that already exists for which we need to invent our own solution to?

shmerl 12y ago

> You are changing the subject, patent trolls are a totally different matter. Patent abuser can even produce something useful. But if the patent is bad (obvious, abstract, claims a function, etc.) then such producing entity can ban all kind of competition which should exist because that thing should not be patentable in the first place. Because of that, term "troll" can be extended to any abuser. Not necessarily NPE. Even PE one. Copying is a natural thing in many cases. Preventing copying by patenting abstract ideas is crooked and should not be allowed. Not to mention cases, when some things were developed independently (so obviously not copied), but still are banned by patents.

CamperBob2 12y ago

Also, the glaziers in your town will profit if I drive down your street throwing bricks through windows. That doesn't mean that any economic value is being created, of course.

stephen_g 12y ago

> Here, we have an example of a company that is knowingly copying something that exists No we aren't. Not sure how you got that idea. The patents in question are for small and obvious methods that is required for the larger product. What you are saying is sort of like saying that somebody who invented the motor car is just copying something that already exists if someone else had a patent for the ball bearing. Innovation requires building on things that already exist. It would be delusional to think anything is completely original and thought of from scratch.

netcan 12y ago

Every piece of software is copying hundreds of little "somethings that exist". The registration form uses a captcha to prevent bot registrations? The user is emailed with a link with a secret code that when clicked, verifies they control that email address. The IP address used to make the web requests are recorded (using a computer) and are later used to infer the users physical location from it. A webpage includes a map with a dot in places where users registered. The size of the dot depends on the number of users. Which of the above is an invention that already exists for which we need to invent our own solution to?