WARNING: iDroid above me!!!!

(Kidding of course, I agree.)

ITT we learn that technological progression is, for the most part, iterative and not innovative, and patent law more often than not attributes ownership of an idea to the company that was best in a position to make a product a success, as opposed to those who actually laid the foundations for the technology it utilized. Patent law also, in many cases, inhibits proper competition as it declares that only some competitors are allowed to use certain technologies.

I'd be in favor of throwing out patents entirely, in all honesty. Or limit the protections that patents provide to a two year timeframe. Usually the true innovators - the Einsteins and Hubbles of the world - aren't the guys worried about making big bucks on their ideas, and a lack of any ability to "own" the fruits of their intellectual labor would not inhibit their research.