Re: Bug#176267: ITP: mplayer -- Mplayer is a full-featured audioand video player for UN*X like systems
On Wednesday 29 January 2003 01:40 pm, Richard Braakman wrote:
> Does it bother anyone else that this completely subverts the point
> of having patents in the first place?
Heh. The patent system has outlived its usefulness, yes. I believe that it
actually was still useful sometime around 1900 or possibly even as late as
1950 or so. But since then, it has gradually declined to the point of
undermining its precise reason for being -- to promote technological
progress. I don't even distinguish between software and hardware -- I think
they're both pointless obstructions.
In the present era, I believe anyone who could actually afford to use the
patent system to protect their inventions doesn't need patents to do so, and
those who might conceiveably benefit can't afford to use it. Furthermore, it
promotes a general fear of litigation -- punishment for independent
innovation. It may serve to prop up existing institutions, but it does not
serve the society, IMHO.
But then, I also believe I will have a very hard time convincing enough
people of this to get the USPO abolished. So we're just doing brinksmanship
here, AFAICT.
Cheers,
Terry
--
Terry Hancock ( hancock at anansispaceworks.com )
Anansi Spaceworks http://www.anansispaceworks.com
"Some things are too important to be taken seriously"
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