Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

We need to get rid of software patents. Patents were created to encourage innovation. Software patents simply rewarding the first person who patents what is almost always an obvious next step. That's not innovation.


Do you feel that there is a difference in innovation between software and other fields?

The obvious next steps you are talking about are usually only obvious in hindsight.


The difference that comes to my mind is costs. I suspect software "inventions" are usually very cheap to make (a person with a laptop is enough), compared to other industries.


Baloney.

Innovation is also driven by people trying to work around patents or otherwise discover alternative ways to solve problems.

I didn't notice the Amazon One-Click patent slowing innovation down while it was still valid.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: