Summary: Some coverage about a loss of ammunition against Android and another debate about software patents, which economists do not like

Apple is going to appeal, i.e. protest the decision to kill its pinch-to-zoom patent. Apple boosters try to deny the seriousness of this verdict from the USPTO and less biased sites put it like it is. The debate about patentability of software has just returned to the trend-setting media. "Here’s why economists hate software patents," explains the Washington Post. It starts like this: "Should software be eligible for patent protection? With litigation over software patents increasing rapidly, it’s an important question. And a growing number of economists are concluding that the answer is “no.” The latest is Gary Becker, who made the case against software patents in a recent blog post.

"“Disputes over software patents are among the most common, expensive and counterproductive,” the Nobel Prize* winner wrote. “Their exclusion from the patent system would discourage some software innovations, but the saving from litigation costs over disputed patent rights would more than compensate the economy for that cost.”

"Moreover, Becker argues, “some software innovations would be encouraged because the inability to patent software will eliminate uncertainty over whether someone else with a similar patent will sue and do battle in the courts, ”a circumstance that has become increasingly common in recent years."

We covered his take before and it is good to see this issue in the headlines again (not just patent trolls). ⬆