Amazon, IBM settle patent lawsuit

Software pattents and Business process patents are a bad idea: The point of the patent system is to persuade inventors to disclose their technology in return for a monopoly on its use.

As near as I can tell, when it comes to software, at least, there are problems with the invention being both "original" and "not obvious."

Originality in software seems to derive from being the first to address a problem. But how does a algorithm EVER achieve the status of not being obvious once the problem is presented?

Isaac Singer's (sewing machine fame) most important invention was not patented, and by the standard of his day could not be patented: "Time Payments," more formally known as the self-amortizing consumer loan. As I understand it, before Singer all loans were like bonds, with periodic interest payments and a repayment of the principal at the end: Something few would be able to handle with a sewing machine which was a very expensive piece of equipment when he started out, far beyond the reach of the cash reserves of most households.

How much of the development of the consumer economy would have been slowed if Singer had been granted a monopoly over consumer credit for twentyeight years? I believe it would have held back many other markets: Windmills and phonographs come to mind right off the top of my head.; Posted by: CodeCurmudgeon Posted on: 05/10/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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