On Jan 29, 9:59 am, Rohit Mishra <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear All! > > Greetings! > What is this: > Software is basically a language. An algorithm is an expression of an idea. > Patenting >it would be like patenting individual words of English. A huge > hindrance to innovation. >Copyright is ok! not software patent!
I don't really think that patenting an algorithm is equivalent to patenting individual words of English. Moreover sometimes it could be a boost to innovation as well. Let me give you an example: There is a company say X which was competing with a company called Y. Company Y had a patented algorithm, which was really useful and a very good algorithm. Given company X had to compete with company Y, it developed another variation of the algorithm in question, which performed as good as the algorithm by company Y. In effect it led to more innovation whereas in absence of patent company X could have simply copied the algorithm and would have focused its energies on something else say 'marketing'. And don't think that this is a hypothetical example, I am quoting this from a real world example. But yes there is a catch, patenting is not so easy and seldom done by individuals without association of a company / organization. Finally every apparatus / innovation is an expression of idea, so I don't see algorithm any differently. > Some Weird Software Patents: > > 1. Tab indexing > 2. Page-up, Page-down > 3. Progress Bars > 4. Generate Key Via SMS > 5. Order by cell phone > > It means you can not use them, in your products.There are many more! Are you sure that these are patented? And in which countries have these been patented? I see that this kind of issue to be a issue with the 'patent granting authority'. I think things which are common wisdom, should be not patentable. > Why Shoud You Sign: This will make our illiterate politicians think before > they make it >a law, which will hamper the Indian software market. Please > join us in protesting >against Software patents! Click here Could you please elaborate why it would hamper the Indian software market? Moreover even copyright is freely violated in lot of places then what makes you think that even software patents cannot be violated? I see patents as a double edged sword where an an organization filing a patent could also accidentally (read deliberately) violate patent of some other organization. The only thing that protects such large organizations is the number of patents a company has. Finally I see that patenting has become a complex topic itself which is beyond comprehension of an individual unless the individual is an experienced attorney in the field of patenting. Just my two cents, Divkis -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Developers" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
