[OT] MPlayer is in trouble - All my thoughts go with you.

[Joseph E. Sacco, Ph.D.]

A problem associated with software patents is the rise in the number
predatory patent applications filed by those who would knowingly exploit
the limited technical knowledge, expertise, and staffing resources of
government patent offices.

There are individuals and corporations that spend their time and money
flooding patent offices with patents on anything and everything,
irrespective of whether or not they are the originators of the ideas,
and irrespective of whether or not the idea is patentable.  

It has become standard practice to seek patents on ideas that most
knowledgeable people "in the business" would take to be "common
knowledge", which by definition is *not* something that is patentable. 

Why do this? Because they can; it only takes time and a little money. It
is simply a case of throwing as much crap up against the wall as
possible to see how much will stick. If it sticks,  there may be money
to be made.

Anyone who have ever looked into patenting an idea knows that it is one
thing to apply for a patent, another to get a patent, and yet another
still to defend a patent against any and all claims, legitimate or
otherwise.

It takes time and resources to defend a position, which provides 
opportunity for those would would wrongly attack that position purely
for the potential financial gain. SCO's attacks of free software is a
case in point:

	http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/sco/sco.html
 

-Joseph

-- 
joseph_sacco[at]comcast[dot]net