Re:Patents create prosperity (Score 1)

I do not mind patents as such. I'm a little sceptical about software patents ("aparatus for opening an application using a one-click"). But this is not the point here. The point is: it is either a patent or a standard. A standard is something everyone can use. When only the paying customers use a technology, it cannot be called a standard. Is Microsoft Word file format a standard? Or a Abobe PDF file? No, they arn't. They are only a very popular form of storing documents. Is a HTML document a standard? Or a ASCII text file? Yes, they are as everyone can freely use them.