Official stance on patents

[infinite_emma]

I would like people to write down attempts on an official text for PPI in regards of Patents in order to put up on the home page. There will be a new page coming up shortly, in which space will be provided for this issue alone. Feel free to suggest what it should entail and so on in here!

[infinite_emma]

Once we get a text suggested to put up on the site, I have also suggestedthat we might put that in the page regarding our principles, instead as having it as it's own page.

[james-cnz]

The costs of patent litigation exceed their investment value in all industries except chemistry and pharmaceuticals. In the software industry, litigation costs are twice the investment value. Elimination of the patent system would increase the incentives for innovation in all industries except chemistry and pharmaceuticals by eliminating startup litigation costs.

Bessen, James (2008) The value of U.S. patents by owner and patent characteristics. Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(5), pages 932-945, June.

Bessen, James & Meurer, Michael J. (2008) Patent Failure. Princeton University Press. <http://press.princeton.edu/chapters/s8634.pdf>

So it would make sense for patents to cover only chemicals and pharmaceuticals.