I read a couple of news stories today that got the topic of technology patents re-stuck in my craw:

Amazon Ponies Up to Microsoft for Linux Rights (Click to read the story at TechNewsWorld.com)

In summary, Microsoft and Amazon are involved in some cross-patent action.  They’re patenting the technology by which the Kindle grabs content from Linux-based servers, and Amazon pays Microsoft for the privilege.  Microsoft has asserted in the past that Linux infringes on their patents, so this patent carries some troubling connotations.

Xerox sues Google, Yahoo over search patents (Click to read the story at CNET News)

So Xerox is seeking an injunction against Google, because they thought up the idea for a “System for Automatically Generating Queries” and a “Method and Apparatus for the Integration of Information and Knowledge.”

The article references the two patents that Xerox is waving around.  I took a minute to scan them, and I’ll give the fine folks at Xerox credit for commiting to the creation of such a long document.  I further praise their ability to wax rhetorical, at length, about not much at all.

In 2001, they came up with a theoretical framework for a search engine. Though it made references to the use of technologies like HTML and XML, neither mentioned the use of PHP, which is really the backbone of the Google search engine (which, for those counting at home, was launched in 1997).

The long-and-short of it, if you believe the assertions of all involved, is that Xerox came up with an idea and sat on it for 10 years, whereas Google delivered a product, from which the entire world has benefitted, that was fundamentally similar to Xerox’ idea.

My Two Cents

I’m going to propose a radical new concept, which I would characterize as both idealistic and pragmatic.  In the name of the forward progress of technology, I call upon the technology community to unite and deliver this message unto the corporate mega-giants: Screw Your Patent.

By getting a rubber stamp on a vague idea, and then using your “ownership” of that idea to hinder the efforts of people who take action and create products, you become the wrench in the gears; and while everyone involved could be directing their efforts toward further innovation, you’d rather they all stop and pay atention to you, while you insist on receiving money that you’ve done nothing to earn.

I say we do away with patents.  Having a good idea is fine and all, but if you produce nothing beneficial from that idea, it’s worthless in a practical sense.  Open source is the way and the light — let’s all start announcing our ideas to the world, and see what happens.  We can still take credit for the things that we produce, and make mad profits — but ideas are worthless without execution.

(My apologies to the person or entity who first thought of doing away with patents and rewarding actual progress — please don’t sue me, I promise it’s not worth your time.)