Software Patents

[Bill McGonigle]

On 07/18/2010 09:02 AM, Bruce Dawson wrote:
> I can't think of any evidence that will prove the opposite -
> unless a lot of software businesses are willing to open their books and
> their legal papers.

Well, you can't make a reasonable policy decision absent data on 
available alternatives.  Given that the patent system is an impingement 
on the liberties of 300,000,000 people (telling them what they may not 
do with their own property) to benefit one person or a small handful of 
his cohorts, the hurdle to prove the case ought to be set very, very 
high.  Absent overwhelming proof, there's not even a utilitarian case (a 
principled case against patents can be made without such studies).

-Bill

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Bill McGonigle, Owner
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