[econgeeker]

"Software developers, and Open Source developers in particular, have been adamantly against software patents for a very long time."

This is exactly as true as the claim that all scientists support AGW theory.

Reality-- most scientists don't support that theory.

But proponents of the theory say that they all do, all over the place. And since there is nobody who actually speaks for all scientists, there's nobody to prove them wrong.

So they repeat it over and over and over and over again, even though it isn't true.

Logically, your statement is easily disproven. I have been developing software for two decades, including open source, and I support software patents.

Now you can never make that statement again. Well, you can't if you're honest.

[nitrogen]

"Software developers, and Open Source developers in particular, have been adamantly against software patents for a very long time."

This is exactly as true as the claim that all scientists support AGW theory.

Reality-- most scientists don't support that theory.

But proponents of the theory say that they all do, all over the place. And since there is nobody who actually speaks for all scientists, there's nobody to prove them wrong.

So they repeat it over and over and over and over again, even though it isn't true.

Logically, your statement is easily disproven. I have been developing software for two decades, including open source, and I support software patents.

Now you can never make that statement again. Well, you can't if you're honest.

At the risk of sounding like I'm retroactively changing my argument, I didn't say "all software developers." My intended meaning of "software developers" and "Open Source developers" was many, not all, which I believe is a common and valid grammatical interpretation of a pluralized noun without a specified quantity.

Sites like Groklaw and organizations like the FSF (though FSF is a bit more extreme on most things than I am) show that there is a sizable group of people against software patents, and whether you yourself are for, against, or neutral, your position does not disprove the harm done to OSS/FS, small companies, and general innovation by software patents.

Finally, though this is off topic, do you have evidence that most scientists don't support the theory of anthropogenic global warming? From the perspective of a non-climate-scientist, non-politician such as myself, it seems like most climatologists do consider anthropogenic greenhouse gases a problem. It also seems that claiming that most scientists disbelieve in AGW is a hallmark of conservative arguments (as in preserving the legal status quo, not as in right wing), as is claiming that patents help the small inventor.

[davorak]

For what it is worth I read your pervious comment as you intended and good job in your response.

[aristidb]

Most of the software developers I talk to don't like software patents. Certainly not all, and I don't have precise numbers, but it's almost certainly the majority.

[nitrogen]

  powerje 3 days ago | link [dead]

  >> Reality-- most scientists don't support that theory.

  Citation needed.

  Anecdotally I think the statement about software 
  developers in general being anti-software patent is true, 
  but especially OSS developers - you really think this is 
  incorrect?

Note to powerje: it looks like your account is dead, apparently because your first post was strongly downvoted.