The thing is, since software can be so easily copied and distributed, the protection that 20 years of exclusivity gives is much stronger and more restrictive th

The thing is, since software can be so easily copied and distributed, the protection that 20 years of exclusivity gives is much stronger and more restrictive than in other areas. I think some effort should be made to adapt the protection a patent grants to software, in order to incentivize R&D without completely hindering things such as free software.