[ILUG] Enda Kenny and Patents

[Rory McCann]

On Mon, 12 Jul 2004, Enda wrote:
> Paul Jakma  wrote:
>
> > 25 years certainly is too long for software, The grant period should
> > be *much* shorter and/or possibly commensurate to the costs of the
> > industry concerned, eg no more than 5 years for software, no more
> > than 10 years for patents in general or whatever.
>
> Not sure 5 years is long enough for software patents. Take 9/11 for
> example.... its resulting in biometric passports, which will in reality get
> fully introduced no sooner than 2007, 6 years after the terror event that
> could inspire a software inovation in that field.

I'm not sure that's a good analogy. There they are not just writing a
computer programme and releasing a pure software product. They are selling
hardware and software, so it will take a while to manufacture the eye
scanners, and get them into the field, plus you have to train airport
staff and all.

How much of it is pure software innovation? Not much.

<Rory>