Most software patents are obvious, because ...

[deesy58]

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bobstro wrote:

Knuth summarized his objections to software patents rather nicely with this "... When I think of the computer programs I require daily to get my ownwork done, I cannot help but realize that none of them would existtoday if software patents had been prevalent in the 1960s and 1970s.Changing the rules now will have the effect of freezing progress atessentially its current level. If present trends continue, the onlyrecourse available to the majority of America's brilliant softwaredevelopers will be to give up software or to emigrate. The U.S.A. will soon lose its dominant position."

Patent trolls have become the living embodiment of his fears.

I'm not happy about the state of software patents, but I do think there's humor in GoogMotorola going after Apple the same way Apple's gone after Samsung.

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When I was in college, Knuth's first book was used as a textbook in at least two of my upper-level classes.  I also purchased his second book when it was published.  I still have both of them. 

In the 1960's and early 1970's we were taught (as Knuth believes) that computer programs were not patentable -- that the only protection available to programmers were copyrights.  Did this change with the advent of the Personal Computer (PC)?

We are all aware, however, that patents have nothing whatsoever to do with the DOJ lawsuit against Apple and the five Publisher Defendants, right?  Just making sure we're all on the same page. 

[bobstro]

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deesy58 wrote:

[...] We are all aware, however, that patents have nothing whatsoever to do with the DOJ lawsuit against Apple and the five Publisher Defendants, right?  Just making sure we're all on the same page. 

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Yes, I think we've followed the change in the Subject line to Apple's legal adventures in general.

[ProfReader]

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deesy58 wrote:

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bobstro wrote:

Knuth summarized his objections to software patents rather nicely with this "... When I think of the computer programs I require daily to get my ownwork done, I cannot help but realize that none of them would existtoday if software patents had been prevalent in the 1960s and 1970s.Changing the rules now will have the effect of freezing progress atessentially its current level. If present trends continue, the onlyrecourse available to the majority of America's brilliant softwaredevelopers will be to give up software or to emigrate. The U.S.A. will soon lose its dominant position."

Patent trolls have become the living embodiment of his fears.

I'm not happy about the state of software patents, but I do think there's humor in GoogMotorola going after Apple the same way Apple's gone after Samsung.

---

When I was in college, Knuth's first book was used as a textbook in at least two of my upper-level classes.  I also purchased his second book when it was published.  I still have both of them. 

In the 1960's and early 1970's we were taught (as Knuth believes) that computer programs were not patentable -- that the only protection available to programmers were copyrights.  Did this change with the advent of the Personal Computer (PC)?

We are all aware, however, that patents have nothing whatsoever to do with the DOJ lawsuit against Apple and the five Publisher Defendants, right?  Just making sure we're all on the same page. 

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It's my fault I'm the one who went off topic a little bit.It's Apples overall behaviour that is causing all of these issues. They apparently think that their company is the only one that matters so **** them.

[deesy58]

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ProfReader wrote:

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deesy58 wrote:

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bobstro wrote:

Knuth summarized his objections to software patents rather nicely with this "... When I think of the computer programs I require daily to get my ownwork done, I cannot help but realize that none of them would existtoday if software patents had been prevalent in the 1960s and 1970s.Changing the rules now will have the effect of freezing progress atessentially its current level. If present trends continue, the onlyrecourse available to the majority of America's brilliant softwaredevelopers will be to give up software or to emigrate. The U.S.A. will soon lose its dominant position."

Patent trolls have become the living embodiment of his fears.

I'm not happy about the state of software patents, but I do think there's humor in GoogMotorola going after Apple the same way Apple's gone after Samsung.

---

When I was in college, Knuth's first book was used as a textbook in at least two of my upper-level classes.  I also purchased his second book when it was published.  I still have both of them. 

In the 1960's and early 1970's we were taught (as Knuth believes) that computer programs were not patentable -- that the only protection available to programmers were copyrights.  Did this change with the advent of the Personal Computer (PC)?

We are all aware, however, that patents have nothing whatsoever to do with the DOJ lawsuit against Apple and the five Publisher Defendants, right?  Just making sure we're all on the same page. 

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It's my fault I'm the one who went off topic a little bit.It's Apples overall behaviour that is causing all of these issues. They apparently think that their company is the only one that matters so **** them.

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Oh well, it seems to happen quite often on these fora.  Apparently there are only a few participants who become upset when it happens, and then it depends greatly on the identity of the perceived offender ...  Not to worry. 

[keriflur]

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ProfReader wrote:

It's my fault I'm the one who went off topic a little bit.It's Apples overall behaviour that is causing all of these issues. They apparently think that their company is the only one that matters so **** them.

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Original thread about Apple, still talking about Apple.  I see no issue here.

There's a huge difference between a thread-jack and normal thread travel.

[deesy58]

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keriflur wrote:

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ProfReader wrote:

It's my fault I'm the one who went off topic a little bit.It's Apples overall behaviour that is causing all of these issues. They apparently think that their company is the only one that matters so **** them.

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Original thread about Apple, still talking about Apple.  I see no issue here.

There's a huge difference between a thread-jack and normal thread travel.

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Original Post text says: "Apple, Publishers File Opposition to Proposed DOJ Settlement." 

That sounds like a post about the DOJ lawsuit, not particularly about Apple.  Your assertion is weak, IMO. 

[5ivedom]

Kerifleur is right.

Apple did bad karma with its stupid patents for obvious things like rectangle shaped tablets and slide to unlock and icon designs.

Now all the bad karma is coming back to it.

1) Samsung's lawsuits.

2) Motorola Mobility's Lawsuits.

3) DOJ eBook Lawsuit.

One company can't take on an entire industry. The secret patent agreement in mobile between Apple and Microsoft was recently revealed.

Lots and lots of things are coming up. Apple thinks it can fight the entire computers and mobile industry but that's madness. Its starting a war it just can't win and might very well lose badly.

[moogs]

Well ...apple just kicked samsungs a** a little over a billion times.

Apple wins $1 billion award in patent case

A federal jury in San Jose, Calif., says Korea's Samsung Electronics violated multiple Apple patents for its iPhone, including design, rubber banding and tap-to-zoom.

[bobstro]

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moogs wrote:
Well ...apple just kicked samsungs a** a little over a billion times.

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Lawyers win.

In a similar suit in Korea, both sides lost, and some Apple devices are blocked there, apparently.

Somehow I don't see this as benefitting me much.

[keriflur]

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bobstro wrote:

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moogs wrote:
Well ...apple just kicked samsungs a** a little over a billion times.

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Lawyers win.

In a similar suit in Korea, both sides lost, and some Apple devices are blocked there, apparently.

Somehow I don't see this as benefitting me much.

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I don't see this benefitting consumers at all.