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Comment by PythonicAlpha | Hacker News Reader

Very sad, that there is still no courage, to effectively limit weak patents.

Weak patents are a hindrance to innovations. In a better world, the patent offices should care for that -- but because they earn money from issuing them, standards have been continuously reduced in the past decades. It also looks better in the "innovation news" of the past year, when more patents can be listed ... but it is just eye-washing.

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First everyone at the top needs give up on the idea that patents = innovation, therefore more patents = more innovation. I remember until 2-3 years ago even Obama basically said the same thing in his speech, when he passed that new legislation that gives the patent to whoever files for it first. I don't know if he still believes that now, but many still do in the government.

If anything, more patents = increased ability to restrict competitors from coming into the market or doing more rent-seeking = less innovation.

We have the same thing in Germany. The problem is not, that the politicians are to ignorant or adhere to wrong believes, but for example our chancellor first met with the big corporation bosses -- and they told her, what "innovation" is in their opinion. And of course, the big corporations have a total different view of innovation than others.

It is like asking the dinosaurs, who the most fittest species on earth is.

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