Start-ups hindered by ridiculous software patents

In effort to spur some discussion please answer few questions in your mind:

When Microsoft took their first patent who was inventors and what it was for...

Great lets check answers 1986 (10+ years after founding), S.Balmer at al., ant they patented a book holder! http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT4588074

Next question how much does it cost to proceed with a patent litigation?

($3M to $10M)

And a multiply choice one: Patent give you a) protection b) ability to attack someone

And the answer is... you know.

So patents are excuse to NOT do something rather then any help. When you will grow to really big company there will be other rules of the game. Check on Apple Nokia recent patent war and how Apple "did not infringe any of Nokia patents" and not paid royalty to most of the players in the field.

So if you want to start something that might infringe something-something go ahead and, on the way, get some patents on what you are doing if you have time to bother...