Ask HN: Under what circumstances is it acceptable to patent an algorithm?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17010607

by chroem- • 8 years ago

3 8 8 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

z66is2• 8 years ago

i say you should do it - just make sure your idea is really new and really great

4D4N• 8 years ago

In my opinion, you should do it. All what Google is now started from an Algo

ggm2• 8 years ago

It is never acceptable. The decision to permit this in US patent law and subsequently elsewhere was a huge mistake, in my opinion.

chroem-• 8 years ago

For context, I posted an algorithm that's about 1000x faster than the state of the art on HN a few months ago as an open source project to solicit job offers, and I know at least a few companies are using it in production.

I got quite a few offers for interviews, but got turned down because of "culture fit" when they found out about my health condition. I have a rare autoimmune disease that's basically destroying my eyesight. A few companies were bold enough not to cut me off right away: some assured me that a job was just around the corner, and asked me to "help them out a bit". Based on the descriptions of their servers and AWS's pricing figures, I estimate that I cut SpectraSeis's server bills from $250k a year down to about $10.

I feel taken advantage of. I'm going blind, I'm unemployed, I can't leave the pitch black bedroom at my mom's house because the sun hurts my eyes, and life is pretty bleak right now.

Is it still unacceptable to patent my algorithm?

z66is2• 8 years ago

you should patent your algorithm and take advantage of your discovery

you might simultaneously advocate for a change in the patent law

in my mind you have two obligations

you have an obligation to your self which should not be ignored

and you have an obligation to society at large

i see a future where copyright and patent are not necessary but they exist now and you should not suffer when there is another option

i think you might be an even better advocate for patent law reform with a lucrative patent in hand

ggm2• 8 years ago

Is it still unacceptable to patent my algorithm?

It's entirely legal. It's entirely normal. In your economy (presuming you are in the USA) its not only normal and legal its acceptable. Its not free: you face some significant costs in achieving a defensible patent.

How I feel about it (the patent) is not altered by your really awful circumstances. I am really sorry you have to carry this burden, and I feel for you, wishing I had some magic bullet. a patent is not a magic bullet. Its not even a guaranteed income. Its a risk actually, a liability which needs to be both bought, and defended.

matt_the_bass• 8 years ago

In the us you have 12 month grace period to file a parent application after public disclosure. Outside the us you do not have that grace period.

Unfortunately this means you cannot apply for any non-us patent because you’ve already disclosed it. Sorry to bear bad news.

rajacombinator• 8 years ago

Keep in mind the alternative to patenting in many cases would be selling it as a service and keeping the method as a trade secret.

I don’t like the idea of patenting algorithms but you have to play the game within the rules society has established some times.

Ask HN: Under what circumstances is it acceptable to patent an algorithm?

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