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Software progress happens without patents
Not only are there studies showing that patents are blocking innovation and research, but there is also decades of proof that software progress happens without patents.
Contents
Examples
History shows that software innovation and research clearly do not need patents.
Microsoft Windows 95
Microsoft DOS and Windows 95 are two examples. In 1995, Microsoft had only 77 patents.[1]
After Microsoft attained a dominant market position, they started saying patents were necessary for software development, but they actually wrote their software before they started getting patents.
GNU/Linux
Free software such as the GNU/Linux and FreeBSD operating systems which were developed without patents.
The WWW and email
The World Wide Web is another example, and email is another.
External links
- Innovation Can Be, And Has Been, Achieved In The Absence Of Software Patents - from the Bilski v. Kappos amicus by End Software Patents