2010/9/4 Cédric Beust ♔ <[email protected]> > This might sound like an obvious plus, but you need to realize that in the > absence of software patents, maybe these companies would simply never have > come up with these ideas in the first place because they wouldn't see the > point in investing millions of dollars in researching and developing > innovative ideas that will be copied at no costs by competitors as soon as > they become public. >
Do you truly fear that would happen? Especially when you consider the actual cost of patents in other areas, where the perceived cost of possible patent liability causes people to not pursue research. This is akin to thinking nobody will enter the fragrance market, because you can not get protection on them. (Or fashion in general, though that is a frighteningly hot topic now.) I'm not taking any side here and I have very often been on the receiving end > of stifling software patents, but I think the two sides of this debate are > often glossed over by eager software developers who don't bother thinking > this problem through. > Not taking a side and accusing those who are on a side of "not bothering to think a position through" seems... rude. If you have actual evidence showing people would not have gone after a market were there not patent protection, then present it. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Java Posse" 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/javaposse?hl=en.
