Re: [myoss] Re: [ossig] Don't stifle innovation

[Ditesh <ditesh@xxxxxxxxxx>]

>If you have to patent something new _before_ someone like MS patents
>them
>  
>

The thing is that much that is patented is not new, is it? But suppose 
that it is - what benefit you'd get patenting it before MS patents it? 
Holding them to ransom? Defensive measure? Both are pretty much useless 
against MS who would have more money and arsenal than any other smaller 
company in the world.

>>We're trying to _oppose_ s/ware patents, not legitimize them.
>>    
>>
>
>Its a push comes to shove thing. Most software patents are retarded, and
>with the current market we have, if you don't do it, MS or some other
>commercial company will do it
>  
>

The thing is this: regardless of business strategies, by patenting them, 
you justify their existence. In other words, if 1000 patents exist today 
and 10000 patents exist next year, then it's hard to explain to people 
why they are bad when businesses are investing money in getting patents. 
Also businesses are reluctant to oppose patents if they invest money in 
it. It's best to oppose them from the start and invest the money in 
opposing patents.

>Bless the kind folk at Novell, Red Hat, IBM, and all the others that
>have given away their patents without issue
>  
>

Only for FOSS, non FOSS software are still endangered. This is an issue 
that affects the entire industry and should be opposed from that viewpoint.

Ditesh


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