Software patents are just retarded. These companies patent ideas and concepts simply to stifle competition. They get patents for the most vague concepts that other companies have been doing for years and years and years.

I'm all for patents for a specific design and an exact way about doing something...like perhaps the apple ipod control wheel. But I would not be ok with a patent for "a method of accessing data, or files from an electronic device utilizing human interaction where the human picks a particular data file from a list of choices and then that choice forces a preinstalled application on the device to launch to properly handle the file". Unfortunately, it's crap like the latter that is patented.

here is a great example
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-P...S=PN/7,415,666

Microsoft has patented the concept of PageUP/PageDown. Yes, this brilliant stroke of genius was INVENTED by somebody at Microsoft and patented in 2005. Unsure what anybody might have done prior to this. But hopefully everybody that has implemented the concept of PageUp/PageDown within a document to scroll list to list to list has paid the appropriate royalties to the Microsoft genius who invented this wonderful technology.

yes, solid example.

I'm afraid we have to put this down to an ID 10 T problem, there are too many employed at the Patent Office.

I do not blame the corporations or individuals that apply for these ridiculous patents, which can be a great income stream, but those who grant them. Surly a bit of common sense would apply to this process.

Perhaps I could patent stupidity, the Patent office, would pay all my bills, with the licence fees

This stuff is the biggest threat to the United States, and for that matter the rest of the world. Think of the potential loss of freedom if this is taken much further...