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> The entire point of patents...

Well, if that were so, you would expect them to be secret and to never expire. The fact that are published and expire after a relatively short period belies the simplicity of that statement.

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In today's world, 20 years could mean the patented object is obsolete by the time it is public domain. Having exclusive use of the technology for the duration of it's useful life expectancy seems like a monopoly to me...

Yes, there is probably a good argument to be made that many patents should have a shorter protected period. Also the "non obvious" requirement for an invention seems to need more emphasis, when an idea like "one click ordering" can be patented.

I really feel like ideas shouldn't be patented at all, just their implementation.

Ever greening patents is standard practice today. This is why insulin is so expensive. Another good example is Disney's bs. They have kept thinks out of public domain for over a hundred years.. The 20 years thing is for the little guy, if he can ever afford the 50k patent and legal fees in the first place.

Disney is copywrite, not patent. Copywrite lasts 50 years past the creators death (was shorter, but Disney lobbied to have it extended).

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