Can You Patent Software?



It depends on a variety of factors. In order to actually get approved for a patent, you need to have clear intellectual property. Your idea itself, whatever it is, is most likely not patentable, but if you have a specific tangible aspect that makes up your idea (such as a super sweet algorithm) then yes you can patent it (whether its worth it is a whole other question on its own).
 
Business processes can be patented. If there is no prior art you can patent a business idea. Apple, IBM, Microsoft, Vulcan, etc... have a shit load of business process patents.
 
Soon to be decided in supreme court. I sure hoping fucking hope not. Software patent is absolutely unfair.
 
you can patent a process or execution of an idea but not the idea itself. you have to ask yourself is your idea unique and is the execution of the idea unique. if you're serious about this you might want to contact a patent lawyer as doing it yourself can be quite difficult.
 
Regardless if you can patent it or not, it's so easy for someone to do a "workaround" and still pretty much steal your idea if someone wanted to. For example, Google has something like 50+ patents on their algorithms but yahoo, msn ect all have the same exact idea and similar (but not exactly the same) algorithms.
 
Implement and progress, and you will prosper more.

The greatest protection comes from first stake in the marketplace... but to answer your question, you could patent the code, sequence of whatever you accomplish with the app, but not the idea.

Basically, someone else could come along, change the interface 30%, and not infringe on your patent = you'd waste your fucking time.
 
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