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Difference between revisions of "Software is math"
(* Counter view: [http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2008/12/15/computer-software-is-not-math/ Computer Software is Not Math]) |
(Respected computer scientist Donald Knuth makes the argument: <blockquote> ''To a computer scientist, this makes no sense, because every algorithm is as mathematical as anything could be. An algor) |
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Since the logic (idea) of software can be reduced to a mathematical formula (idea) with Church-Turing Thesis, and because mathematical formulas (idea) are not patentable, patent applications for software ideas should be rejected. | Since the logic (idea) of software can be reduced to a mathematical formula (idea) with Church-Turing Thesis, and because mathematical formulas (idea) are not patentable, patent applications for software ideas should be rejected. | ||
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| + | Respected computer scientist [[Donald Knuth]] makes the argument: | ||
| + | <blockquote> | ||
| + | ''To a computer scientist, this makes no sense, because every algorithm is as mathematical as anything could be. An algorithm is an abstract concept unrelated to physical laws of the universe.''<ref>http://progfree.org/Patents/knuth-to-pto.txt</ref> | ||
| + | </blockquote> | ||
==Related pages on {{SITENAME}}== | ==Related pages on {{SITENAME}}== | ||
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* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church%E2%80%93Turing_thesis Wikipedia: Church-Turing thesis] | * [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church%E2%80%93Turing_thesis Wikipedia: Church-Turing thesis] | ||
* Counter view: [http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2008/12/15/computer-software-is-not-math/ Computer Software is Not Math] | * Counter view: [http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2008/12/15/computer-software-is-not-math/ Computer Software is Not Math] | ||
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| + | ==References== | ||
| + | <references /> | ||
{{page footer}} | {{page footer}} | ||
[[Category:Arguments]] | [[Category:Arguments]] | ||
Revision as of 02:20, 28 March 2010
Mathematical formulas are generally recognised as non-patentable because math is not patentable subject matter.
Since the logic (idea) of software can be reduced to a mathematical formula (idea) with Church-Turing Thesis, and because mathematical formulas (idea) are not patentable, patent applications for software ideas should be rejected.
Respected computer scientist Donald Knuth makes the argument:
To a computer scientist, this makes no sense, because every algorithm is as mathematical as anything could be. An algorithm is an abstract concept unrelated to physical laws of the universe.[1]
Related pages on ESP Wiki
- Anti-lock braking example - if the physical car invention is patentable, should an in-computer game-simulation be?
- Books:
External links
- (in German) http://www.users.sbg.ac.at/~jack/legal/swp/tech-turing-lambda.pdf
- Wikipedia: Church-Turing thesis
- Counter view: Computer Software is Not Math
