28 January 2008

Words of Wisdom: Patents


"If people had understood how patents would be granted when most of today's ideas were invented and had taken out patents, the industry would be at a complete standstill today. ...

The solution is patenting as much as we can. A future startup with no patents of its own will be forced to pay whatever price the giants choose to impose. That price might be high. Established companies have an interest in excluding future competitors."

Attributed to Bill Gates, 1991

Therefore don't underestimate the danger posed by patents in anyone industry!

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