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by hugh3 5379 days ago
It's not clear to me where the line between "software patents" and "other patents" exists, or why that should be a bright line.

And even if you could convince me that patents in field X (say, patents for mining machinery) were (at present) holding back rather than encouraging innovation in that field, this might not be a convincing argument anyway. I think government should treat all industries equally unless there's some very compelling reason not to.

1 comments

> And even if you could convince me

What evidence have you heard that patents actually help?

> that patents in field X (say, patents for mining machinery) were (at present) holding back rather than encouraging innovation in that field, this might not be a convincing argument anyway.

Wow, that's harsh. "These arbitrary rules against redheads are ruining Ireland but at least we're enforcing the rule evenly across countries."