[B Knotts]

I think you need to look into some of the patents that have been granted before you dismiss the concerns.

Software patents are pretty much a racket, used to keep small players out of the market. I say this as a developer whose company was threatened by a patent troll, who did not realize his supposed “invention” came years after our product was already developed.

[FLAMING DEATH]

In related news, the scrollbar had been patented as of 2004. By Lexmark.

http://www.prior-ip.com/patent/27128737/

About time. I’d been using it royalty free since at least 1990.

[FLAMING DEATH]

Oh, and I almost forgot the double click, patented in 2002: http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/12/30/double_click_patent_lawsuit_attacks_apples_iphone_ipad.html

[SoConPubbie]

Software patents are pretty much a racket, used to keep small players out of the market. I say this as a developer whose company was threatened by a patent troll, who did not realize his supposed “invention” came years after our product was already developed.

Then I assume the process worked, right?