Hmmm?
Let me reflect a moment:
God created heaven and earth.
Al Gore invented the internet.
Now it seems APPLE has invented touch.
Ok over simplified, BUT, like many things in life throughout history there is a time and place for the ability to protect oneself or ideas that are truly an improvement. Over time many of these things become lesser in value .... A castle to save the king and people, guns to fight off savages or ferocious animals, unions to insure fair workplace treatment, and patents have been entering this zone for a number of years.
Why? Because given enough financial backing or unscrupulous behavior by a larger organization an idea can be stolen, implemented, sold, controlled and the inventor who created the patentable entity will not live to win the battle nor will many of his successive generations. Many good and patentable (by today???s standards) ideas become 2nd rate in a short period of time in the fields involving computers and electronics.
Finally, remember back to the early days of APPLE when they created a commercial of the athlete throwing the hammer breaking the big screen broadcasting big brother freeing the souls who were chained by the evil monster.
CONGRATULATIONS APPLE YOU HAVE SEEN THE ENEMY AND NOW THEY IS YOU....sorry POGO.
