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I agree with this. I might get some flack, but.....if you don't file the patent then someone else likely will. Morality points are great and all, but at the end of the day you're going to lose out to the company which "beat" you to it and will now attempt to collect royalties on you.

In a perfect world, no one would file software patents. Unfortunately, we don't live in a perfect world. Pretending like we do will simply burn you later.

So no, I'm not in favor of software patents but I think it's ignorant to act like ignoring them solves the problem.




> I might get some flack, but.....if you don't file the patent then someone else likely will.

If you don't file the patent and someone else tries to you can challenge it with your documented prior art.


Now that we are in a first to file system, will that actually invalidate it?


As long as you've documented or used the invention in public prior to the filing, I believe yes. IANAL, though.

If you're trying to keep it as a trade secret you might have trouble then.


Yes. Prior art was actually expanded with the new Act.




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