Most of the patents out there are garbage anyway, especially the software patents as they are really just patents on ideas, not inventions. I say, if there's more than one way to reach a claim, it's a patent on an idea, not an invention. Besides, all software is math, and you can't patent math.

I really appreciate it when someone who actually does that work steps up and let us know what's really going on. I like the phone number idea as that assures me that I'm going to get a password reset message if someone tries to make trouble with my account. I also have never received unsolicited phone calls as a result of my disclosure of my phone number to Google. I have an Android phone, so it makes sense anyway.

The post by IamTheRealMike is one of the reasons I enjoy reading Slashdot. I am always looking for posts like that to educate myself. It is that spirit that brings me back over and over again.

So thanks, IamTheRealMike.

That's true, they are. But if you noticed in Oracle v Google, there's a jury sitting for both copyright and patent infringement.

Yes, getting the issue before a judge would have to come first.

The road is littered with the carcasses of the former partners of Microsoft.

Jury nullification would drive the point home without any violence and do so in a way that is completely legitimate. In fact, it would be hard to overcome without pulling the iron fist from within the velvet glove. It is, after all, intended as the last resort if the legislative and executive branches won't listen to the will of the people.

I can understand your sentiments, but what tool would you suggest?

The only way that is going to happen is through jury nullification of patent law. http://fija.org/

Given our current rate of patent litigation, I somehow doubt this conclusion. In their book, Against Intellectual Monopoly, Boldrin and Levine cite numerous studies showing how R&D fled patent enforcing countries for more friendly turf (medical R&D was just one example). While it's true we do a lot of R&D here, we're by no means alone in this endeavor. Not to mention China. They are producing as much or more R&D effort as we are and they are just getting started.