Editing Software patent debate (section)

== Arguments for patentability ==
There are several arguments commonly given in defense of software patents or defense of the [[patentability]] of computer-implemented inventions.

===Public disclosure===
* Through public disclosure, patents encourage the open sharing of information and additional transparency about [[Legal liability|legal exposure]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Gallini|first=Nancy T |author-link1=Nancy Gallini|date=2002-06-01|title=The Economics of Patents: Lessons from Recent U.S. Patent Reform|journal=Journal of Economic Perspectives|language=en|volume=16|issue=2|pages=131–154|doi=10.1257/0895330027292|issn=0895-3309}}</ref>
* Through public disclosure, patents encourage the transfer of [[Mechanical system|mechanical technology]], which may apply more broadly.<ref name=":0" />

===Economic benefit===
*Software patents resulting from the production of patentable ideas can increase the valuation of small companies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WIPO: Intellectual Property for Business |url=https://www.wipo.int/en/web/business |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=business |language=en-US}}</ref>
*Software patents increase the return on investment made, which includes government funded research.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Coriat|first=Benjamin|title=Establishing a New Intellectual Property Rights Regime in the United States: Origins, Content and Problems|journal=Research Policy|year=2002|volume=31|issue=8–9|pages=1491–1507|doi=10.1016/s0048-7333(02)00078-1}}</ref>

===Encouragement of innovation===
*The ability to patent new software developed as a result of research encourages investment in software-related research by increasing the potential return of investment of said research.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323582904578487200821421958|title=The Experts: Does the Patent System Encourage Innovation?|date=2013-05-16|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2017-03-29|issn=0099-9660}}</ref>

===Copyright limitations===
{{Main|Copyright infringement of software}}
Patents protect functionality. Copyright on the other hand only protects expression. Substantial modification to an original work, even if it performs the same function, would not be prevented by copyright. To prove copyright infringement also requires the additional hurdle of proving copying, which is not necessary for patent infringement.

Copyright law protects unique expressions, while patent law protects inventions, which in the case of software, are [[algorithm]]s; copyright cannot protect a novel means of accomplishing a function, merely the syntax of one such means.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.law360.com/articles/5115/experts-debate-constitutionality-of-software-copyrights | title=Experts Debate Constitutionality Of Software Copyrights | access-date = 2017-03-28}}</ref>

This means that patents incentivize projects that are unique and innovative in functionality rather than simply form.  Copyrights, in turn, only incentivize uniqueness in form.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://partnershipforamericaninnovation.org/software-myths-and-facts/#copyrightenough | title=Software Myths and Facts | access-date = 2017-03-29}}</ref>

=== Protection for small companies ===
Software patents can afford smaller companies market protection by preventing larger companies from stealing work done by a smaller organization, leveraging their greater resources to go to market before the smaller company can.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/why-we-need-software-patents-and-yes-im-smarter-than-you/|title=Why we need software patents, and yes, I'm smarter than you|last=Shaw|first=Steven|work=ZDNet|access-date=2017-03-29|language=en}}</ref>

===Hardware patents analogy===
Hardware and software are sometimes interchangeable. If people can patent hardware, then ideas describing software implemented by that hardware should also be patentable.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323335404578444683887043510|title=Should Patents Be Awarded to Software? | access-date = 2017-03-28}}</ref>