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by gstar
6099 days ago
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The value is that it helps you cement the value of your business with potential investors and the bank, it establishes credibility when marketing yourself to customers. I'm fundamentally opposed to them, but the reality is that they exist. Because of this, I found myself organising patent protection for our software. If they are abolished, I'll be upset about my £8k investment - but more happy that sanity has prevailed. |
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In other words: a legal cudgel, often useful to business people and often useful to startups. I'm sure the economy does not benefit from the ensuing posturing and cudgeling, but I can see why someone would see having one in their self interest.
I think you could cut out a lot of software patent trolling if you required a working device to be submitted. With the widespread availability of small, cheap, microprocessors, this wouldn't be an insurmountable requirement for individuals. Also, it would make silly software patents like "One-Click" less straightforward to apply for. (Amazon: this box implements the "One-Click" functionality. Reviewer: how can I make it work? Amazon: well, it has to be plugged into our test data-center.)