Dislike software patents, but they’re a necessary evil right now
I dislike software patents, but as Jonathan Schwartz outlines, they’re a necessary evil. While it’s relatively cheap to start an Internet company, obtaining the IP necessary to defend yourself against patent trolling is a prohibiting factor. Patents are so disproportionately expensive for a bootstrapped startup that they’re often disregarded; yet they’re vital for reducing risk of litigation and having success in a market that’s full of patents. It makes me wonder about the collective of software companies that dedicate so much time and capital to patent applications. Is the review drain even worth it to the USPTO? Probably not, yet we’re all still blowing money on IP acquisitions instead of creating jobs to build things that matter.
