Yes, it is. The patent system is predicated on the idea of disclosure (indeed, the very word "patent" derives from a Latin word meaning "open"). The idea is th

Yes, it is. The patent system is predicated on the idea of disclosure (indeed, the very word "patent" derives from a Latin word meaning "open"). The idea is that inventors will add their innovative knowledge to the public domain, for which they will receive a temporary monopoly on its commercial exploitation. Most proprietary software is protected by trade secret laws, which are vulnerable to reverse engineering. Patented software is not, since it has already been disclosed in the public record and is nonetheless protected during the term of the patent by virtue of its monopoly status.