20 hours ago
- Patents may either help or hinder technological progress, but bad uses of patents are increasing.
- Patent reform through government is slow, but alternative solutions can attack the problem downstream at the point of use.
- A major abuse is established companies using patents to suppress small competitors with good products.
- A proposed solution is a public pledge: no first use of software patents against companies with fewer than 25 employees.
- The pledge is not legally binding but serves as a moral standard, similar to Google's 'Don't be evil'.
- Companies that adopt the pledge attract top talent, while holdouts become conspicuous to employees and investors.
- The pledge does not stop patent trolls but targets the suppression of innovation at its root.
- Individuals can help by asking companies where they stand on the patent pledge.