s other mediums (Cosgrove). This istrue sometimes, however, to copy a book would take time. You would have to type u! p each page to make a copy of it, or at least photocopy or scan each page, and it wouldmost likely take up much more time than its worth. To copy a computer program however, takesseconds. Changing the law would take time and money, you might be saying. It would be atremendous hassle in Congress to have a new law written just to cover that "Information Superhighway"thingy. Yes, thats true too, but to not change the laws will cost more. With the ability to patent new andnon-obvious software functions comes serious problems. The latest new technology, be it ray-tracing3D engines, anti-aliasing software, or a new internet exploring fad can be patented. This would meanthat only one company and its software could use it. Any other companies that wanted to use thesoftware would have to pay them a large sum of money for the rights. Also, since patent hearings are conductedover a period of 3 years, and in secrecy, company 'a' might create a software package and then apply fora patent, and company 'b' may create better software during that period, and might become quitesucessful, and then bam, the patent is given to the company 'a', who prompty sues the ! pants off company 'b'. This stagnates the computer industry; it used to be that company'a' would retaliate by making better software (Del Guercio 22-24). For example, Lotus software. They used to make data organization software. Upuntil I did this report, I thought they had gone out of business, because I hadn't heard about anythingnew being done by them. Well, while I was researching, I found the appalling truth. When patenting ofsoftware became acceptable in the early 90's, they closed up their R&D departments and called in a bunchof lawyers to get them patents on all their programming techniques (Del Guercio 22-24). Ever sincethen, they've been ...
