Why we need software patents, and yes, I'm smarter than you
The minority, in this instance, is correct: software patents have an important role to play. Right and wrong are not determined by vote.
Shaw's Law
Steven Shaw
Steven Shaw used to be a litigation attorney at Cravath, Swaine &gMoore, a New York law firm, and is now the online community managergfor eGullet.org and the Director of New Media Studies at thegInternational Culinary Center.
Latest Posts
Why we need software patents, part 3 of 3
There are improvements that can be made to the patent system, but they are the same types of incremental improvements every large system needs. Scrapping the system is just a bad idea.
Why we need software patents, part 2 of 3
Given that we're progressing toward a society that makes its money through products of the mind not of the factory, our economic health depends on incentivizing our best and brightest to innovate, by making innovation a reliable way to accumulate wealth.
Why we need software patents, part 1 of 3
The hardware/software distinction is another of those oft-repeated but intellectually nonsensical distinctions that we need to do away with if we are to have an intelligent discussion about software patents.
Antitrust enforcement gone wild, eBook edition
The Department of Justice is breaking up a conspiracy. The only problem is that the whole point of this conspiracy is to defeat a monopoly. So the DOJ winds up supporting a monopoly. Nice.
Wasting time on privacy issues
At the D10 conference, FTC Chairman Leibowitz boasted that the agency bullied Facebook into adopting an opt-in privacy policy. This is a complete waste of time and money.
Putting the United Nations in charge of the Internet is the best idea ever
When I'm stumped by geopolitical challenges and I ask myself "What organization can really get the job done?" my answer is always "The United Nations."
Google's search engine results are free speech and I don't care
Think the United States government has a chance in hell of beating Google's legal team? Think again.
Five reasons you should pay for your porn
Why should you pay for your porn instead of downloading it illegally? Because the consequences of doing so could be costly.