Star Editorial: Not Everyone Understands the Patent Situation
Linked by Eugenia Loli-Queru on Sat 15th May 2004 08:23 UTC
Editorial It is when I read articles like this that I have "my blood all going up to my head" (that's a Greek saying for people that get angry). So apparently, Apple is trying to patent "transparent windows that do a certain action after fading away". While I don't personally find this "innovation/invention" patentable, it's fine with me: Apple is doing the best it can to secure its business (maybe I would do the same if I had shareholders on my back).
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Don't agree.
by Solar on Sat 15th May 2004 13:55 UTC

I make a living from developing software in Germany, and I have to disagree with m's 5th point.

I am working in creating an application. This application is benefitting our company because it provides a valuable service, with high performance, reliability, and sophistication. Copyright laws forbid our competitors from ripping off the software and employing it for themselves.

All that patents could bring to the table is a horde of lawyers swarming all over to find out who broke which patent, and suing the violator into oblivion unless he has a patent portfolio of his own which he can bargain with. The only ones benefitting are the lawyers and the patent offices.

With things being as they are, I don't have to double-check every single algorithm for whether it's patented or not, and we deliver quality software that beats the competition because of our know-how, our skill, and our head start in developing this stuff. Our competition works on similar software, and the market pressures keep everyone trying hard to improve / catch up. In the end, all products get better every day.

Patents are good only for hindering your competition on the *legal* battlefield, instead of the *technological* one where this kind of competition belongs.

No patents on algorithms, data structures, procedures, or ideas.