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From: bret@codonics.COM (Bret Orsburn)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
Subject: Re: Software patents
Message-ID: <2799@codonics.COM>
Date: 28 Feb 91 22:53:54 GMT
References: <9102262229.AA07555@mole.ai.mit.edu> <9102272125.AA09794@shasta.tivoli.com>
Organization: Codonics, Inc., Middleburg Heights, OH
Lines: 23

In article <9102272125.AA09794@shasta.tivoli.com> kk@shasta.tivoli.COM (Kerry Kimbrough) writes:
>
>   > It costs over half a million dollars to fight a lawsuit against a
>   > patent, and not all patents can be overturned in this way.
>
>So why fight? Pay the royalty or negotiate a patent swap. This is SOP for
>patents; sw is no different.

So software patents have no appreciable effect on large organizations with
large patent portfolios, substantial profit margins and large legal staffs.

At the same time, they can have a decisive impact on small organizations
and individuals.

Precisely what public good does this serve?

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Bret Orsburn					   Speaking only for myself
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Bret Orsburn