The purpose of patents is to create a balance. A balance between the need to create a sizable reward and incentive for inventors and investors, and the need to benefit as society from these innovations. More importantly, to create a continuous flow of improvements and innovations building upon each other. That is the motivation to limit patent protection in time. After some years the inventor is deemed to be rewarded and others can use the ideas to create something new.
The current patent system has been designed for physical goods and processes, not for a hyperconnected age where “connect and share” of ideas creates the highest value for society. The abundance of rather ridiculous software patents creates stalemates and patent wars that serve no purpose.
The latest one is reported by Ars Tecnica. As a proof that trouble never comes alone, poor TomTom is targeted by Microsoft in a broad patent lawsuit. The details are available in the article, but the general issue at hand is a proof that software patents currently lead to World War I -like warfare. Old ideas, stalemates and a massive loss to society.
