Post by trog @ 10:53am 20/12/12 | 9 Comments
"Temporary fixes aren't good enough – we need deep and meaningful reform to protect software development and keep it as free and democratic as possible," said Persson, creator of the popular videogame Minecraft. "New games and other technological tools come from improving on old things and making them better – an iterative process that the current patent environment could shut down entirely. This is a dangerous path we're on, and I'm glad to help EFF move us in the right direction."The money is going to the EFF's Defend Innovation project (along with another $250,000 from Mark Cuban ).
If you pay even a tiny bit of attention to technology news, you'll know that patent issues have been a Big Deal, especially in the mobile phone world, where patent wars are becoming almost thermonuclear in their intensity. There is a real risk that problems with the US patent system will discourage innovation as entrepreneurs are aggressively blocked by patent trolls.
Software developers are at particular risk with many utterly trivial ideas and concepts being patented "on a computer", making it a bit of a minefield if you're a startup looking to commercialise a great idea. It's great to see Notch step up and put his money where his mouth is in such an epic way and I look forward seeing the EFF put it to good use.
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Posted 12:36pm 20/12/12
On the other hand a company that patents an idea like 'swipe to unlock' is merely the first to be able to manufacture something that implements the idea, but there was no brilliant idea behind it. But where do you draw the line?
And what about people who patent ideas but never figure out how to actually make them work and never implement or sell the idea? That idea can't be used by someone who legitimately figures out how to use it?
I should add that notch is a lucky guy that really didn't invent anything new, he got lucky by making a huge success out of half of an old concept. So for someone like that, being able to use other people's technology is a big bonus, but protecting his own ideas isn't as important.
last edited by thermite at 12:36:43 20/Dec/12
Posted 12:36pm 20/12/12
(actually it was a whirlpool)
Posted 02:15pm 20/12/12
Posted 02:21pm 20/12/12
Posted 02:26pm 20/12/12
Posted 02:57pm 20/12/12
Posted 05:00pm 26/12/12
Why don't you just say Apple.
Posted 05:30pm 26/12/12
because it isn't just apple
Posted 09:58pm 26/12/12
The problem referred to there is more about true patent trolls (companies that have a patent but don't actually create or sell anything related to it) suing small companies and startups in the expectation that they won't have the budget or time to defend themselves in court.