Editing List of software patents (section)

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{{Computer programs, software and patent law}}
This is a '''list of software patents''', which contains notable [[patent]]s and [[patent application]]s involving [[computer program]]s (also known as a [[software patent]]). Software patents cover a wide range of topics and there is therefore important debate about whether such subject-matter should be excluded from patent protection.<ref>{{Cite BAILII
 |litigants=RIM v Inpro
 |court=EWHC
 |division=Patents
 |year=2006
 |num=70
 |para=185
 |date=2006-02-02}}</ref> However, there is no official way of identifying software patents and different researchers have devised their own ways of doing so.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://www.researchoninnovation.org/softpat.pdf
 |title=The Software Patent Experiment (March 16, 2004), pages 4-5
 |publisher=James Bessen and Robert M. Hunt
 |accessdate=2007-04-12}}</ref>

This article lists patents relating to software which have been the subject of litigation or have achieved notoriety in other ways. Notable patent applications are also listed and comparisons made between corresponding patents and patent applications in different countries. The patents and patent applications are categorised according to the subject matter of the patent or the particular field in which the patent had an effect that brought it into the public view.
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