How to Fix Software Patents

Much has been written about software patents in the recent months. As we watch high profile lawsuits ravage across the globe burning time, focus and attention from many of the largest players in the mobile space it’s clear that the existing patent system isn’t working. Kevin Marks’ recent post inspired me to write down some of the thoughts I had for how to fix the patent system so it works for software. While some call for abolishing software patents, I think that’s an extreme response, and loses all the intended benefits.

Before I start, I feel it’s necessary to clarify that I’m not a lawyer nor do I play one on the Internet. This represents my view alone, and not the view of my employer or anyone else associated with me. It’s provided as is and confers no rights so please don’t sue me 🙂

What Should a Patent System Accomplish: Encourage Innovation for the benefit of society

The purpose of any system for intellectual copyright is to encourage innovation for the benefit of society. This, in my mind, is the end goal. This is where I’ve seen many commentators getting confused. Rewarding the innovator is a means to an end, not the end in itself. It so happens that up until now we’ve been successful in harnessing market forces so that ‘benefit to society’ and ‘benefit to the innovator’ are closely aligned – a software patent version of Adam Smith’s invisible hand if you will. With the increased frequency and size of patent tussles I’m afraid that the existing system no longer rewards the innovator for innovating. Instead it rewards companies for hiring lawyers to write patents and sue (or get license fees from) those patents.

The Two Biggest Dangers With Our Current System

1. Large Companies Stifling Innovation: This is seen often today through the use of patents to prevent innovation from disrupting an established lucrative market long after the novelty of their invention has faded. It’s also seen as once dominant players attempting to claw back financial rewards from a market where they’ve ceased to offer competitive and innovative solutions.
2. Patent Trolls: Companies whose only product is the legal fees they receive from those who are developing and iterating on useful solutions. These ‘non-practicing entities’ impose a tax on an entire market, and slow down the pace of innovation of even the largest companies.

3 Steps to Fix the Software Patent System

By adopting these three simple rules I believe the industry will go a long way towards encouraging innovation:

1. Limit the timeframe on patents to 1 year: Innovation in the technology sector is so fast that what was new a year ago is now outdated and in need of replacement. By limiting patents to a year this allows innovators to profit from truly novel inventions, but also encourages them to continue innovating to stay ahead of their rivals.
2. A patent can’t be enforced unless you have a product on the market: If a company has no product on the market, then it’s not participating in advancing innovation in a meaningful way, and it also cannot show harm to any business other than that of being a patent troll. Combined with the time limit on patents this will encourage companies to build and iterate quickly.
3. Patents can’t be enforced on companies with under 100 employees: To encourage new entrants into a market, patents shouldn’t be enforced on startups. This levels the playing field by balancing the scale and reach of large companies with the nimbleness of their smaller rivals.