>Your feelings might be different if it was your patent being infringed upon

I have refused to pursue patents, even though I have been at the top of my primary field (computer graphics) for several years, and have had many opportunities. I could perhaps have done damage to my competitors, but I truly don't feel it is right.

One of the thoughts behind patents is that they make worthwhile the large investment of capital necessary to make inventions. This may be the case in the pharmaceutical industry, but it is absurd in computer software. Any software patent could be developed on a $200 PC. What companies spend years and millions developing are complete programs, which are protected by copyright, not patent.

I am deeply convinced that software patents are wrong, but I am still withholding judgement on other industries. I certainly have no intention of attempting to pursue patents on any aerospace developments, but I don't (yet) have the revulsion for the concept that I do in software. That will probably come when I get a demand letter from a Lockheed staff lawyer...

John Carmack