I leaned something about myself today. I really, really, really, hate software patents. I suppose I knew this already, because there are so many good reasons to hate software patents. But when I read this article detailing how Microsoft has been ordered to pay $521 million dollars for infringing someone else's software patent I thought, "That sucks." Let's be clear: I am no fan of the folks in Redmond, WA. I believe they were let off the anti-trust hook far too lightly, and that new but similar anti-competitive practices are at work every day. It's not an accident up there, it is their whole strategy. And over 50 million of those dollars would go to the Univeristy of California system, of which I am now a student and alumnus. So, if this ruling were upheld, it would mean more money for education in a state where the budget is a mess and where MY tuition was just raised 30%! This should be great news!
But it makes my heart sink. Even Microsoft having to pay for infringing a software patent is a bad thing. These ridiculous patents are impeding progress, not promoting it. They should be completely abolished yesterday, and if we can't get that, then they should only last three years or less. The industry moves too fast to bottle up new ideas for decades.
The enemy of the freedom-loving software community is not Microsoft. In this instance we share a common enemy: lousy technology public policy decisions. We have to educate the public and our representatives on these issues. Otherwise, we lose something unquantifiable: a better future.
Posted by Brian at September 2, 2003 10:56 PM | TrackBack