Comment Re:Patents are Evil (Score 1) 113
I actually think software patents are a good thing if used properly (what we see here is misuse). Lets say I come up with a great idea. Under disclosure tell my friends, some potential customers, and get some short term investment money. Take time off work to get the patent filed, then look for bigger investors. If a corporation wants to buy or license it, the investors get a return and even if I never make the product I've officially succeeded as an inventor. Or I get more investment money from investors, I can pay for people and assets to make it. And the best part is I'm protected from competitors.
Except this doesn't happen.
Instead we have IBM collecting stupid ones for unknown reasons. Microsoft collecting them because they know they'll be sued broke if they don't. Opportunistic patent whores. Phone companies waiting for their ideas to succeed by others and suing them out of existance (Gif). Or web services preventing competitors from gaining traction in new business models. And yet the funny thing is that if a little guy like me creates a patent and ATT or Vonage implement it without my blessing I'm shit out of luck because I'm too small to fight them.
So, what I propose is to first abolish ALL new patents, terminate all patent lawsuits, eliminate any unreasonable royalties. Basically restart everybody with an even playing field.
Second, make invention a government concern. Every country in the world (well this is a lot to hope for... aka will never happen) work together to manage invention within their borders. When a citizen or business comes up with an idea, they go to their government who dedicates resources to help develop the idea. If this means a small guy like me, they provide experts and investment money who help produce and market the good ideas into the product or service. In return they get a slice of the revenue back. I get my idea out and making money and they get their investment back. If anybody duplicates the idea, even in another country, it is the job of the government to resolve it, and I can continue to do my job.
If a big corporation like IBM or Microsoft comes up with an idea, it's the same thing. They get some investment money to develop it (even if they don't need it), and get a slice of revenue. They and the government win too. The government helps them reduce the risk of trying new ideas and increased R&D will help every country in the long term.
I know nobody will agree with me or say it's possible. I know it's as likely as socialized health care in the United States and people will take advantage and abuse anything they can. But I do believe that ideas must be promoted and brilliant people need to be protected and rewarded. The current system only helps those with money and portfolio and screws the rest.
Oz
Except this doesn't happen.
Instead we have IBM collecting stupid ones for unknown reasons. Microsoft collecting them because they know they'll be sued broke if they don't. Opportunistic patent whores. Phone companies waiting for their ideas to succeed by others and suing them out of existance (Gif). Or web services preventing competitors from gaining traction in new business models. And yet the funny thing is that if a little guy like me creates a patent and ATT or Vonage implement it without my blessing I'm shit out of luck because I'm too small to fight them.
So, what I propose is to first abolish ALL new patents, terminate all patent lawsuits, eliminate any unreasonable royalties. Basically restart everybody with an even playing field.
Second, make invention a government concern. Every country in the world (well this is a lot to hope for... aka will never happen) work together to manage invention within their borders. When a citizen or business comes up with an idea, they go to their government who dedicates resources to help develop the idea. If this means a small guy like me, they provide experts and investment money who help produce and market the good ideas into the product or service. In return they get a slice of the revenue back. I get my idea out and making money and they get their investment back. If anybody duplicates the idea, even in another country, it is the job of the government to resolve it, and I can continue to do my job.
If a big corporation like IBM or Microsoft comes up with an idea, it's the same thing. They get some investment money to develop it (even if they don't need it), and get a slice of revenue. They and the government win too. The government helps them reduce the risk of trying new ideas and increased R&D will help every country in the long term.
I know nobody will agree with me or say it's possible. I know it's as likely as socialized health care in the United States and people will take advantage and abuse anything they can. But I do believe that ideas must be promoted and brilliant people need to be protected and rewarded. The current system only helps those with money and portfolio and screws the rest.
Oz
