Reading 13

According to the readings, a patent is a set of exclusive rights given to an inventor for a limited period of time in exchange for detailed public disclosure of their invention. Patents are granted to applicants who have invented something new, useful, and non-obvious. A patent does not give the right to make or sell an invention, but rather gives the right to exclude others from making, using, or selling for the term of the patents, usually twenty years.
Patents are intended to prevent others from copying an invention or the wat in which that invention is created. By disclosing all of the details behind an invention, patents promote individuals to try to find more efficient and less costly ways of manufacturing products. They also encourage innovation by granting the inventor with the sole right to manufacture and sell their invention. If someone knows that they and anything they might create is protected, they will be more willing and motivated to innovate.
While patents do provide legal protection against the copying of an inventor’s invention, there are some negatives that must be considered. One thing that some may turn people away from applying for a patent is the requirement to reveal the process of producing the invention. Coca-Cola is famous for not having a patent for the formula behind Coke. They have chosen to keep their formula a secret.
I believe that patents are a good thing and that they should continue to be granted. Patents reward individuals who are able to create something, new, useful, and non-obvious. By doing so, patents motivate individuals to be the first to create something, and for others to try to find better ways to create the same thing, or make alternatives all together. This competition can help create choices in the market. Without patents, I believe that there would be less innovation and that the progression of society would ultimately take much longer.
I believe that patents on software should be granted in addition to those on physical and tangible artifacts. To my understanding, the process of creating a new piece of software can be as involved as the process for creating something more tangible. The reading states that “U.S. patent law excludes ‘abstract ideas,’ and this has been used to refuse some patients involving software.” To the average individual, especial our ageing lawmakers, software may seem like an abstract idea, however, I believe that it is not and that the same befits of offering patents for tangible inventions can be seen by rewarding patents for software.

According to the readings, “a patent troll uses patents as legal weapons, instead of actually creating any new products or coming up with new ideas.” This is clearly an issue as they take away the integrity of patents. Perhaps it is necessary for there to be some sort of reform in the patents application or in the ability for individuals to buy and sell patents. With any system, there will always be those who try to exploit it. I do not believe that patent trolls create enough of an issue that the administration of patents must be stopped.  

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