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I do think they are different. But copyright being around for 75 years doesn't really affect innovation in the software industry.
Software patents do.
Copyright protects the code. Patents protect the idea.
There is nothing stopping me creating a Google Maps clone tomorrow (in fact there are many), or an iTunes clone or a Internet Explorer clone if the code is my own or I have modified code with a permissive license.
What might stop me from creating something new is a patent on "one click" payment system (amazon) or the arrangement of particular elements in a user interface.
While I think that Software Patents should be allowed for software algorithms that are significantly complex or ingenious.
I think the "user zooms in using two fingers while thinking about Beyonce" patents are bad.
What is even worse is that there are a lot of people that have very polarised views on each subject.
I have no answers that would solve it this, but there has to be a balance between pragmatism and idealogy at some point.
Edited 2012-11-30 18:33 UTC





Member since:
2009-08-18
I think 75 years is silly for copyright yes.
However I don't know what Mickey Mouse has got to do with the law protecting my hard-work when creating a software program.
Creating Software is non-trivial, while I work for a gambling company ... if I worked for myself, I would like to think there are protections in my own country that stop a rival just de-compiling/stealing and redistributing something if I am selling licenses.