Ciaran O'Riordan wrote:
I'd like to be able to point out that all software innovations that have pushed society forward, are patent-free. So what other examples are there?
I think it would be easier to think of the software innovations that pushed society forward that *weren't* patent free.
RSA and LZW are the only two widespread algorithms for which patents existed yet which still received widespread usage that I can think of off the top of my head. Effectively alternatives were found for both until their patents expired.
E-Cash might be an example of a potentially useful software innovation that hasn't got anywhere, arguably because it is patented up to the hilt.
I find it hard to believe that a lack of examples of non-patented innovations which mattered, or patented innovations which didn't, could be the core issue in this debate - since neither is in short supply.
We need to identify what the core issue is here that decision makers need to be persuaded of. I think we will make a mistake if we nitpick minor points of fact, we have to be clear and unambiguous. Something like:
"The Internet is the most important innovation since the printing press. If software patents had existed in the 1970s, the Internet would still be science fiction today".
Ian.