On patents in general

• 20-year monopoly on professional use of an invention
• Right to exclude
• Generality varies (software patents often very broad)
• Criteria for granting: must be
  • invention; not directly defined, but, e.g., the following are defined as non-inventions:
    • discoveries, scientific theories and mathematical methods
    • artistic creations
    • schemes, rules and methods for performing mental acts, playing games or doing busines, and programs for computers
    • presentations of information
  • correctly disclosed (understandable to a professional)
  • industrially applicable (stretching to "music industry"...)
  • technical character and effect (definition unclear with s/w)
  • new (but patent office may fail to check)
  • non-obvious (very low criteria)
• Independent invention later doesn't help, firstcomer gets it all