[pbhjpbhj]

>to try out a new version of software happens in seconds where making a prototype of some machine or object takes days, weeks or months //

Aren't most prototypes "made" in software nowadays and only final products are really fully produced.

In generally I think I agree with what you're saying. In Europe software patents, as such [!], are not allowed but patents to software have always been allowed that made a technical effect, ie performed a real physical change to a system. It's very hard to pin down the boundary but I think that this is something the board got right.

That said I think personally that all manufacturing rates have increased greatly since patent terms were set and that the terms should be decreased to compensate for this change in the rate of development.

[jeremyarussell]

That's a valid observation I hadn't made yet, concerning manufacturing in general. You're right about the prototypes being made with software as well, I mostly meant that to physically produce the prototype is different then when you produce the prototype for software, given the click and compile nature of it. All in all though I agree that the terms really need to be reconsidered, but I don't see our legislative branch making an real changes to our governmental system in general, it works out for them pretty good right now.