User talk:Pmhalupt
I wrote up notes from the reading and lecture for later discussion - testing to see where this gets posted.
I actually think today the patent system with respect to software is not promoting progress due to low novelty/difficulty bar for issuing patents. I personally have patents issued to me that I do feel would be obvious to folks trying to solve the same problem - and some of the biggest litigation in software patents like web page plugs, and 1 click shopping sort of things are very obvious to whoever first would run into the problem. At MSFT we get 1500 bonus for every patent filed and it is greatly encouraged, so we are very aggressive in filing patents.
Patents today waste incredible amounts of resources of intelligent lawyers and programmers filing patents and then fighting over infringement on fairly obvious solutions to problems. These resources could have been used figuring out other tough problems for the benefit to society. Product development is often held up and costs are increased due to the patent activity around the product (acquiring and defending).
The economic rewards in software currently are adequate in the first to market advantage to drive innovation. The only advantage I would give to software patents is some important secrets are made public in the patent filing that otherwise might stay buried in company trade secrets. I think the benefit of patents would be realized if the "novelty" aspect could be beefed up as a requirement so only truly innovative steps forward gained a patent.
