Actually the patent lasts for 20 years -Billy 2009/11/13 ndungu stephen <ndungustephen@gmail.com>
My two cents....
If I spend X-billions making a multi-touch, I should be allowed X number of years to recover my money - because I came up with the idea first.
Secondly, If I come up with a multi-touch, and I do not patent, then company Y will patent and charge me for my own research.
=== Lack of patents will breed lack of motivation - and the world foresore this, and that's why the patents expire after a period of 5 years [correct me if I am wrong] - and the guys copying may just have to pay royalties.
Please read the story of the guy who invented the "intermittent windshield wiper" [google or wikipedia it]
Or watch the movie [the dramatization is more exciting] " A flash of Genius" - a classic case of why patenting is important.
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