Software patents

From en.swpat.org

Jump to: navigation, search

A patent is a 20 year monopoly on the use of an idea. Ideas must meet certain criteria in order for a patent to be given.

Contents

[edit] Definitions

A "Software patent" has various definitions.

On this wiki, we use it the term with a broad definition to include patents on:

  • Algorithms
  • File formats or communication protocols
  • Game patents
  • Business methods
  • Network services

These are areas that legislation, courts, and patent offices should exclude from patentable subject matter.

Keeping in mind that we're using that broad definition of "software", you may be interested to read Why focus only on software.

[edit] Algorithms

Examples:

[edit] Business methods

Business method patents are not necessarily software based, but I don't know of any patent that's been granted on a business method without a computer being included in the application.

[edit] External links about business methods

[edit] Related pages on en.swpat.org

[edit] External links


This wiki is part of the End Software Patents campaign (donate). For more information, see:
Retrieved from "http://en.swpat.org/wiki/Software_patents"
Personal tools