[skybrian]

I almost got my name on a patent that way for sharing an idea in an internal forum. I refused (well, I asked politely) and they took my name off it. (There was someone else in the conversation as well.)

[pnw_hazor]

Omitting an inventor from a patent is usually grounds for invalidating the patent.

(Unless they are careful to exclude all of your contributions from the claims -- which is almost impossible)

[gaudat]

Sounds like it's a bad idea to have our names on a patent from the way you said it. Can you enlighten us on that?

[skybrian]

I don't like the idea of software patents, generally, and would feel weird arguing against them if I had my name on one.

[ericlewis]

Anecdata: but, just because I threw in a couple of suggestions I didn’t feel like I deserved it. Also, don’t much care for patents personally.