Software Patents

[Jeffry Smith]

> On 07/17/2010 10:17 AM, Bruce Dawson wrote:
>> Software patents are bad for the industry - its one reason I retired
>> early rather than spend all my time fending off patent trolls instead of
>> "innovating".
>>

US Constitution, Article 1, Section 8, Clause 8:
"[congress shall have the power ...]To promote the progress of science
and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and
inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and
discoveries;"

Given the innovation and productivity that has happened WITHOUT
software patents, would love to see a study showing the extent to
which software patents promote or hinder "the progress of science and
useful arts" - I suspect it would show they hinder progress more than
help.

jeff