Ruth's Profile

Member since February 22, 2007

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    Ruth Cook

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  1. Comment - Supreme Court Debates Patentability of Software

    (Feb 22, 2007 - 1:00 PM)

    I think the point about installing on the pc is this tortuous argument that you can only patent software as a way of making a computer do a specific task. That is, a software patent is a patent on a specific configuration of the general purpose tool known as a computer.

    Consequently, the patentable thing is the software + the hardware actually operating (or in operable state, i.e. installed) - and not any subset of those parts, or any predecessor.

    Q: If
    - person X has a patent on wheelbarrows, and
    - person A sells you a wheeled axle, a bucket, and an automatic method that joins the bucket to the axle to person B;
    ... has either person A, or person B, infringed person X's patent?

    Ruth