Freedom of Speech in Software 250
akpoff writes " I've been struggling with the question 'what's wrong with software patents' but haven't been able to find the right words. I was over at John Gilmore's website and found a link to John Salin's 'Freedom of Speech in Software' letter to the USPTO back in 1991! This is one of the best explanations I've seen. He reminds us that computer programs are essentially like literature or music -- they are expressions of ideas. Just because they run on a computer doesn't make them uniquely different from other creative mediums. We should think player piano (patentable) vs the music (copyrightable but not patentable) it plays. Europeans -- put this letter into the hands of your MEPs!"
But wait a minute... (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Computer science is too young for patents (Score:3, Funny)
Umm... it's already been done. US Pat. #5,707,114 [uspto.gov]
Make it clear software is writing. (Score:2, Funny)
Use poetic aliterative variable names which connotate the emotion behind the variable rather than stark descriptive variable names which denotate the purpose of the variable.
Use a pretty turn of algorithm rather than a boring direct approach.
Write additional haiku, odes, sonets, etc. in the comments rather than describe your intentions in writing a particular step in the code.