patents are a bigger threat to free software because we can't pay royalties

Posted Aug 7, 2004 4:25 UTC (Sat) by stomfi (guest, #10602)
In reply to: patents are a bigger threat to free software because we can't pay royalties by riel
Parent article: Software patents no bigger threat to Free Software than to proprietary software

If I have a new macro idea, which includes all sorts of other common
general usage ideas, and patent the macro idea, does this mean that
predators can patent any part of it? And what happens if the idea is
common to any kind of communication and interaction, including vocal face
to face and written. Will we see patents on say the idea of pen pals?
The biggest problem I see is how to have a world wide patent on anything
as a monopolistic predator could take out patents in all the countries
that one hasn't marketed a product to yet.