Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeD
In fact, if you ask many developers who's livelihoods are dependant on the protection of their software, they'll argue that patents would only stifle their business rather than protect them. That's certainly echo'd in my thoughts, my sole income is software related.
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And a short sighted opinion it is...even if you DO work in the trade.
To wit: Lotus spent millions creating and selling the spreadsheet software 1-2-3 as did Ashton Tate with the database dBase.
Other companies copied their products so closely (Quatro Pro, Foxbase) that they could be used as exact drop in replacements. Worked on the same files, looked almost exactly the same, took no extra training to used the copy-cat products which were sold for less money.
Now, these companies did not copy the exact source code. They just reverse engineered the commercial products. They used the existing products as the goal, and then worked to create products that could be exact stand in replacements.
It's no different than when a Chineese company makes knock-off Gucci purses or Rolex watches.
That's not innovation -- that's "I can take your ideas, your marketing, your success and make money off it".
Just because it's very difficult to define "what's an original idea or expression" doesn't mean it's not worth trying. If we don't protect the work and investment it takes to create software, we won't end up with more innovation.
Lee