My email in-box (and LinkedIn & Twitter) were full of posts about the upcoming Supreme Court case regarding software patents.
According to Forbes Magazine last week:
"On March 31 the Supreme Court will hear arguments in a lawsuit that will decide the future of software patents. Or not."
http://www.forbes.com/sites/danielfisher/2014/03/20/supreme-court-to-decide-fate-of-software-patents-or-maybe-not/
The case before the court is Alice Corp. vs. CLS Bank - and www.scotusblog.com says the issue is:
Whether claims to computer-implemented
inventions – including claims to systems and machines, processes, and
items of manufacture – are directed to patent-eligible subject matter
within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 101 as interpreted by this Court.
Many of us in Technology are watching this case and waiting for the outcome - as it could fundamentally change the patent system for software.
The Washington Post writes:
If you write a book or a song, you can get copyright protection for
it. If you invent a new pill or a better mousetrap, you can get a patent
on it. But for the last two decades, software has had the distinction
of being potentially eligible for both copyright and patent protection.
Critics say that's a mistake. They argue that the complex and
expensive patent system is a terrible fit for the fast-moving software
industry. And they argue that patent protection is unnecessary because
software innovators already have copyright protection available.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/02/26/will-the-supreme-court-save-us-from-software-patents/
I'll keep this post updated with the eventual outcome of the case.