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comparison org/patents.org @ 22:004f5f795445

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minor change.
author Robert McIntyre <rlm@mit.edu>
date Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:15:57 +0000
parents 8df13ee40f30
children f2a99bdc04fc
comparison
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21:8df13ee40f30 22:004f5f795445
61 Amazon a lot of money. Needless to say, there are many patents that 61 Amazon a lot of money. Needless to say, there are many patents that
62 are very silly. 62 are very silly.
63 63
64 Now, I chose a particularly silly patent, but the point is that 64 Now, I chose a particularly silly patent, but the point is that
65 patents can be a great force for the retardation of progress. Many 65 patents can be a great force for the retardation of progress. Many
66 silly patents have been issued, and a patent lasts for 17 years. For 66 silly patents have been issued, and a patent lasts for 17 years! For
67 almost any idea, there will be some patent that will cover your 67 almost any idea, there will be some patent that will cover your
68 idea, and then the entity that owns that patent can prevent you from 68 idea, and then the entity that owns that patent can prevent you from
69 selling products based on that idea /or even giving products based 69 selling products based on that idea /or even giving products based
70 on that idea away for free/. This can become a MAJOR problem for 70 on that idea away for free/. This can become a MAJOR problem for
71 free software, since for basically any program, some part of that 71 free software, since for basically any program, some part of that
74 GNU/Linux distributions don't come with an mp3 player. The mp3 74 GNU/Linux distributions don't come with an mp3 player. The mp3
75 algorithm is patented, and even if you write an open source mp3 75 algorithm is patented, and even if you write an open source mp3
76 player, you will have problems distributing that player because of 76 player, you will have problems distributing that player because of
77 the mp3 patents. 77 the mp3 patents.
78 78
79 ** Patents are treated as physical objects 79 ** Patents are treated as physical objects
80 They can be sold, seized, etc. This is because the government wants 80 They can be sold, seized, etc. This is because the government wants
81 new inventions to actually be made available to the public. The idea 81 new inventions to actually be made available to the public. The idea
82 here is that if you are an inventor and you obtain a patent on a 82 here is that if you are an inventor and you obtain a patent on a
83 cool invention, but are unable/unwilling to develop an commercial 83 cool invention, but are unable/unwilling to develop an commercial
84 product, you can sell that patent to some company and give them the 84 product, you can sell that patent to some company and give them the