Free?

[Chante]

Steven Schveighoffer wrote:

> All
> software patents do is create a barrier to innovation, and act as
> weapons against other patent-holding firms.

Patents as a way to protect inventions that cannot be kept a trade 
secret, and that's all (i.e., that which clearly can be kept trade 
secret, should not be patentable under this system), may be a better 
patent system. Such a system would:

1. Allow ongoing development and innovation by the inventor. An 
idea/concept in the hands of its creator is much more useful, in regards 
to innovation, than in the hands of copycats who only serve to decrease 
the inventor's earning potential.

2. Prevent development of technologies that are inadvertently based upon 
patented work. The much lower number of patents to search through to 
effect this would be much more amenable to such.

3. Allow many more independently-developed inventions to coexist, for 
they would be trade secrets rather than stifled by patents. A true boon 
for the consumer of the inventions.

Of course, the above system is onnly necessary because one cannot rely on 
people to have high standards of values such as honesty and integrity 
(especially "the entitled set"). Bitten once, twice shy. If it becomes 
quite common dialog, then it may be worth some risk to throw something 
out there with an explanation of what the hopes are, and then see what 
happens.