On Friday 02 November 2007 14:37, Anurag wrote:
Quoting "Kamaleshwar Morjal [???????? ??????]"
Very true.. i am for abolishing of patents... These closed system vendors are wasting the knowledge base of their own techie staff!! Locking it up for good..
You mean, abolishing "Software Patents"? There are several fields where patents are used the way they were expected to. But then, that is out of topic.
The original basis for patents was to provide society the benefit of knowledge by publishing that knowledge (not as many erroneously believe to merely benefit the inventor). The inventor was compensated for this sharing with a limited period monopoly on the commercial application of the knowledge in a device. Patents did not prohibit independent invention of a similiar device, substantial improvement of the device or non commercial use of the patented device. Gradually the whole process was totally corrupted. Also the original premise was valid for a different era 300 yrs ago with scant understanding about the nature of knowledge and it's inability to exist in a vaccum. Patents only slow down the benefits of technology to society - irrespective of the "high cost of research" spin the pharma companies love to dish out.