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Patents, like copyright, are not a theoretically pure framework like physics or maths. They're a very pragmatic give-and-take agreement designed to achieve a ce
by swombat 17y ago
Patents, like copyright, are not a theoretically pure framework like physics or maths. They're a very pragmatic give-and-take agreement designed to achieve a certain result. According to the US constitution, that aim is "to promote the progress of science and the useful arts".
In-so-far as software patents do not achieve that aim, they are worthless.
(the same, btw, could be said of copyrights, but not, interestingly, of many other kinds of patents)
- jberryman 17y agoExactly. It's important to remember that both copyright and patents are instances of the public willingly ceding, in very specific cases, some of their constitutionally-protected freedoms (in the case of copyright, freedom of speech) because doing so is seen to have a positive net effect for society (the creation of more art, better technology).