[casual_games] Gameplay patents

[Jonas Beckeman]

The substantial amount of time and money to get the patent approved is  
*nothing* compared to what it will take to defend it.
The patent itself doesn't really give any protection, only when tried in  
court will you know if it's solid. It probably isn't (although your lawyer  
will work very, very hard to write a specification that is impossible to  
interpret), and then you'll only be left with a huge pile of lawyer bills.

But it's true some investors like software patents, however ridiculous  
they may be - it looks good on paper and adds a whiff of the "serious"  
research-intense industries.

If I feel like infringing on your patent, I will assess your financial  
status and if I think I have more resources than you, I'll simply ignore  
it. With more money, I'll wear you out in court, if it comes to that.