Inventing Software: The Rise of "Computer-Related" Patents

Since the introduction of personal computers, software has emerged as a driving force in the global economy and a major industry in its own right. During this time, the U.S. government has reversed its prior policy against software patents and is now issuing thousands of such patents each year, provoking heated controversy among programmers, lawyers, scholars, and software companies. This book is the first to step outside of the highly polarized debate and examine the current state of the law, its suitability to the realities of software development, and its implications for day-to-day software development. Written by a former lawyer and working software developer, Inventing Software provides a comprehensive overview of software patents, from the lofty perspectives of legal history and computing theory to the technical details and issues of actual patents. It is the only book to date to provide software developers with a practical guide for studying and appraising their competitors' patents and safeguarding the value of their own efforts. Though intended primarily for programmers and managers, attorneys and software company investors will find Inventing Software readable, useful, and illuminating.

KENNETH NICHOLS is an independent Oracle database consultant in Great Britain. /e He holds an M.S. in Computer Science from California State University and a J.D. from UCLA, and has had more than 15 years experience in the computer industry.