Please Mr President – abolish software patents

“Patent trolls” are firms that buy many patents, and then threaten companies with lawsuits – claiming that their patent has been “infringed”. In most cases the claims are questionable – but most companies pay anyway – to avoid the extreme cost of going to court.

Obama is now taking actions to make life more difficult for the patent trolls. This is certainly a step in the right direction.

But Obama should take more bold steps. We believe that the idea that someone could have a global monopoly on an idea – is simply a bad idea.

Software patents hinder competition which means higher costs for consumers and slower human development.

So please Mr. President – do the right thing and abolish software patents now.