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Is spreadsheet software protected by patents? I know that in the early days of spreadsheets there were legal battles over this question. A quick search on Google patents also shows that there are people who claim to have a patent on the concept of a spreadsheet. If I were to create spreadsheet-type software, would I be infringing on patents and be at risk of being taken to court by patent trolls or other companies? |
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Short answer is that the devil is in the details. I doubt that one could successfully patent the generic concept of a spreadsheet program today (or, if there were any, would have since expired). However, one could certainly patent certain improvements on spreadsheet programs, or methods of implementing them. I don't think making a spreadsheet program will subject you to patent liability per se, but certain details of your concept or implementation might. |
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The first modern spreadsheet program was Visicalc which was very revolutionary in 1981. However, the creators did not take out a patent since software patents were not well established back then. |
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