metlin's Journal: Software Patents & Slashdot Group-think

Ah, yet another pristine example of the Slashdot groupthink.

For some odd reason, they cannot accept the fact that there maybe genuine folks out there who could use software patents.

Not to mention the fact that half the folks do not know the difference between patents and copyrights or the requirements and pre-requisites for getting the patent.

Nope, but we will however say things like, "I doubt you have ever been involved in a court case, never mind a patent infringement lawsuit." and mod-down those whom we disagree with rather than argue.

Bah, am just ranting. Fucking asshats.

But why oh why can't people see that there MAY be someone out there for whom something maybe beneficial? Perhaps it doesn't agree with your worldview, but that doesn't make it wrong.

Am serious here - am I the only one who seems to think that perhaps there is another side to things, too? It's disappointing to see one sided and biased arguments.

Utilitarian argument

[Morosoph]

You're right of course: it's far too easy to oversimplify. The real argument against software patents is not that they're never a good idea, or never encourage innovation, but rather that with short develpment cycles, and other advantages, such as the "first mover" advantage (you're more familiar with the underlying concepts and how they're put together, and have a working product), means that by and large, they're unnecessary. If you can stay one product cycle ahead, that's probably the best situation

Article 33 of TRIPS

[Morosoph]

Re: Article 33 [ffii.org].

Article 33 mandates that all patents must have a minimum duration of 20 years.

This is important to know, because it renders frequently recurring proposals pointless, such as that of Amazon's CEO Jeff Bezos, who advocates reducing the lifetime of software patents to 3-5 years.

What morons! Faced with idiocy like this, you have to pick no software patents, because a twenty+ year patent protection could easily make those who are not part of a patent cross-licensing legal cartel inviable.

Groupthink

[Lando]

So are you complaining that some people are just parroting others not investigating themselves or are you of the opinion that there is nothing wrong with the patent and copyright laws?


Nope, but we will however say things like, "I doubt you have ever been involved in a court case, never mind a patent infringement lawsuit." and mod-down those whom we disagree with rather than argue.


What positions are they moding down?


But why oh why can't people see that there MAY be someone out there for whom somethi