On 18 Jun 2007 12:40:27 -0700, in bit.listserv.ibm-main you wrote: >>To the patent issue: Patents are OK as long as they are for new >>technical development and not business processes. > >IMHO, patents are desirable only to the extent that USPTO is familiar >with prior art and able to recognize what is obvious to practitioners.
Patents are desirable when they contribute to the welfare of the people. This happens when innovation is nurtured, wealth is created, and/or problems reduced - to a greater extent than their expenses. There have always been some occasions when patents have been used to get rid of competition or to make free money. But our environment is changing, when you need a team of lawyers to tell you how many clicks someone needs to buy a product on your web page, the costs are greater than the benefit to society. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
