[blhack]

>Because I do know what I'm talking about.

What makes you more qualified to comment on them than anybody else? Do you work in patent law?

If so, how does that qualify you to speak to their implications in the software world (since that is where people have a problem with them; not the wording, or the format, or the location of the building, just the effect on the community).

[tkeller]

> Do you work in patent law?

Yes. As for the effect on the community... well, are you just talking about the way that patents make software developers feel? Because obviously developers would know more about that than I do. But it's also not a particularly relevant question--patents are what they are, and the way they make you feel doesn't really matter.

[blhack]

>are you just talking about the way that patents make software developers feel?

No, I (and I think I speak for the majority of people against overly-broad software patents) am against the effects of those patents.

>the way they make you feel doesn't really matter.

This is absolutely untrue. People being upset about this stuff is how it gets changed.

[tkeller]

Well, maybe so. But I stand by my disappointment at the lack of knowledge about patents around here. We don't understand patents, but we're mad as hell about them!