Being Quote by Jonathan Zittrain
“With the rise of software patents, engineers coding new stuff - whether within a large software company or as kids writing smartphone apps - are exposed to a claim that somewhere a prior patent is being infringed.”
About This Quote
Software patents expose developers to infringement claims, even when creating original code, due to overlapping prior patents.
In simple terms: Patents can threaten new software creators with legal risks.
Key Takeaway
Navigate patent landscapes carefully when innovating.
Themes
intellectual property
software development
innovation
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
legal
technological
When to use this quote
- startup launches
- open source projects
- corporate R&D
Key Concepts
patent law
risk management
Questions to Reflect On
- What steps can developers take to avoid infringement?
- Should patent systems be reformed for software?
A Different Perspective
Patents can also protect genuine inventions, balancing risk and reward.
![“As the commercial confrontation between [free software] and software-that's-a-product becomes more fierce, patent law's going to be the terrain on which a big piece of the war's going to be fought. Waterloo is here somewhere.” quote by Eben Moglen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/040/eben-moglen-39549_bigs_as-the-commercial-confrontation-between_921209.jpg)
