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Difference between revisions of "Blocking competing software"

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The cost of all these patents has to be paid by someone, often the users.
 
The cost of all these patents has to be paid by someone, often the users.
  
==See also==
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==Related pages on {{SITENAME}}==
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* [[Preventing competition]] - lowering quality, raising prices
 
* [[Preventing competition]] - lowering quality, raising prices
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* [[Used for sabotage rather than competition]]
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==

Revision as of 08:29, 24 February 2010

Software patents prevent multiple teams from innovating in the same field. So instead of ten word processors, you'll only have two.

This factor is particularly important in the software field because the software industry already has a strong tendency towards the creation of natural monopolies, partly due to the cost of competing with an established incumbent, and partly due to the natural desire of users to adopt the products that they see a majority of other users using, because of the benefits this brings in terms of interoperability and adoption costs.

For new entrants to the market, interoperability with established products is often a precondition of success. Patents can make such interoperability much harder (sometimes impossible) to achieve.

Higher prices

The cost of all these patents has to be paid by someone, often the users.

Related pages on ESP Wiki

External links