I just recently wrote a paper on software patents. Although we could suggest a shorter patent term, there are many practicalities in the process of granting patents that makes it an inferior solution to abolish software patents altogether.

Even without patents, we still have copyrights, "dress trade" and other nuances of the legal system, before we really have a worry-free, innovative environment.

God and the compilers bless the brave man to embrace such noble cause.