flyerguy - 7:47 pm on Apr 2, 2009 (gmt 0)

I wish they would speed up the application/review process, too many companies are spending $10K to apply for a patent that's clearly never going to be approved, on the grounds they can write nasty letters to anyone who tries to use similar technology, and scare them into submission - "you will owe backdated royalties for using this technology once our patent is approved" etc. - no small business can weigh the potential costs of patent litigation vs the probably meager gains they get by using a specific technology.. so whoever has the most money can gain simply by bullying the competition until their silly application expires.

I have been on the small-fish side of this type of scenario, a little extra functionality for users is not worth seeing your business potentially destroyed, most businesses couldn't afford one day in patent court.

A faster review process would decrease the window for this type of idea-squatting.