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Why would I be ethically obligated to sign for it? I was obliged to sign things when I was an employee, but I haven't been for years.

Also, do you mean to imply if you have ever taken a paid position in the industry (as essentially every company will have you sign away your patents), then your opinion on software patents can never matter again?

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In the US, employment or separation agreements usually include language that requires former employees to cooperate in patent matters after they leave the company. (Of course, limited to your inventions made while you were an employee.) Typically, this includes signing formal documents.

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