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Comment by throwawaykf05 | Hacker News Reader

That is actually the case for most people outside the HN / open-source bubble. When you read a media outlet or the EFF make flat broad statements that "engineers hate software patents", you now know that they are, at best, pandering, or at worst simply lying.

The truth is, the vast majority of software engineers don't even know what a patent is. Of the rest, some are neutral, some are pro-, and some are anti-software patent. Of course, you only ever hear from the latter group because they think it's a big problem, and the rest really don't see anything wrong.

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Similar to what WorldWideWayne is saying, it's possible to be anti-patent and still have some sense of pride over being granted one. The two are far from mutually exclusive. I'm strongly opposed to software patents but would still be giddy if I got one for some neat search algorithm.

I suggest reading about collective action, tragedy of the commons, and prisoners' dilemma. Acting alone and then convincing others to join you will make a difference, but we need to stop thinking about ourselves and start thinking about the society and future we would want to live in if we were suddenly dropped in with no assets or contacts.

I'm quite familiar with all of them, and I completely agree. I'm simply pointing out that there's a divide between the things that make us happy on a conscious level and a visceral level. I'd liken getting a patent to eating the last piece of pizza. I know it's bad for me, and I know I've deprived others of the experience so I should _feel_ bad, but it was also tasty so I can't help but feel somewhat satisfied.

I see something wrong with "the system" but I'd still file a patent for the monetary bonus and the prestige that you get in many circles. My individual action here isn't going to change the system either way.

Same reason that I don't vote. I think a lot of people fall into this category of thinking.

But ask yourself, why do you feel something is wrong with the system? My guess is because you've only been exposed to the media outrage built around cherrypicked examples of bad patents. I've read hundreds of patents, most of which could be called "software patents", and the reality is much more mundane and boring: the vast majority of patents are not groundbreaking or even interesting, but they are not overly broad or vague or obvious either, and very rarely are they infringed by anybody because they solve a narrow problem that nobody else has.

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