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Code Patent Riddle

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 5:07 pm
by Benjamin
If one were to compare computer code to lego pieces, and one were to build a castle out of the lego pieces, could one then patent the castle?

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 5:10 pm
by Chris Corbyn
Yes, as far as I know. You're patenting the idea, not the code itself. Patents suck, they prevent software from being improved through competition.

Re: Code Patent Riddle

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 5:58 pm
by RobertGonzalez
astions wrote:If one were to compare computer code to lego pieces, and one were to build a castle out of the lego pieces, could one then patent the castle?
I think you can patent the process used for assembling the castle (the standardized workflow), the actual design of the castle (the architecture) and the functions performed by the castle. This is of course if you are not utilizing a patented method, patented architecture or patented functions. I believe, but I am not sure.

Re: Code Patent Riddle

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 6:11 pm
by Roja
astions wrote:If one were to compare computer code to lego pieces, and one were to build a castle out of the lego pieces, could one then patent the castle?
Technically, you don't patent the completed item. You patent methods.

So for example, you could patent something like "A method for building rectangular towering shapes with alcoves for firing arrows" (the process of building a castle tower).

But the tower itself you would *copyright*. Very different things.

Sadly, software patents cause quite a bit of damage. They prevent a substantial amount of innovation for truly trivial methods.