November 15, 2003
Software Patents are bad, says FTC
"Software and Internet patents are impeding innovation. [...] Such patents are impairing follow-on incentives, increasing entry barriers, creating uncertainty that harms incentives to invest in innovation, and producing patent thickets. [...] Defensive patenting increases the complexity of patent thickets and forces companies to divert resources from R&D into obtaining patents. [...] Patent thickets make it more difficult to commercialize new products and raise uncertainty and investment risks. [...] Hold-up has become a problem that can result in higher prices being passed along to consumers." -- FTC report on patents and competition.
The USA are in the unfortunate position of already having software patents, and are just finding out how bad they are. The UK government are set to make things worse for us - going against the will of the people.
See also software patents and patents postponed? and patents revisited.
Posted by savs at November 15, 2003 5:21 PM