Patents are meant to encourage innovation, but all too often they are used to restrict basic human activities, culture, and knowledge. Software patents, in particular, have been a major concern for the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) for over two decades. The latest “Stupid Patent,” No. 8,655,715, granted to a company called Opus One, also known as Contest Factory, claims to cover a wide range of online contests. Opus One has filed lawsuits against other companies and even threatened a small photo company over its patent. These types of software patents not only harm the economy but also impede people’s rights to express themselves and participate in online culture. The patents held by Contest Factory highlight the need for greater scrutiny of software patents to protect online freedoms.
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/12/stupid-patent-month-selfie-contests