Software consists of lists of instructions that a computer reads and
             executes. The tasks done by a computer are largely repetitive; the same
             chunks of instructions are executed many times. Each chunk performs one
             specific task and goes by the label algorithm, a method for accomplishing a
             specific task. In the United States, it is possible to obtain a patent for
             a software algorithm. One example of a patented software algorithm is the
             LZW software algorithm. The LZW patent is owned by Unisys. The algorithm
             is commonly used to compress an image file into a format know as the
             Graphics Interchange Format (gif). Patent law was created to protect the
             rights of the inventor and to encourage innovation. The thinking was that
             an inventor would be more inclined to reveal his invention to the public if
             he knew that a rival would not steal his design and undercut the original
             inventor's business. By encouraging inventors to share inventions with all,
             patent law tries to improve society. Patent law, however, is far from
             perfect; particularly in the area of software patents it has failed
             miserably to create innovation or to improve society. Like the prophecy of
             the witches in Macbeth, things are not always as they seem. Software patents
             may appear to be good at first glance, but in reality they stifle innovation
             First, the idea of patenting a software algorithm steps into the realm of
             absurdity. As previously stated, an algorithm describes a concrete set of
             instructions which, upon execution by a computer, perform a specific task.
             The above definition, however, includes one erroneous detail; the
             instructions in an algorithm need not be executed by a computer. A computer
             greatly speeds the execution, but a human being can just as easily, albeit
             slower, execute the steps in an algorithm. With this knowledge, one
             struggles to grasp what exactly Unisys has patented. Have they patented the
             ...