Couldn't agree more. The focus on non-practicing entities is misplaced. There's no reason we shouldn't incentivize inventors who come up with great ideas so they can sell them to others who have the skills to bring them to market.
I think the more appropriate distinctions between good patents and bad are in the subject matter of the claims themselves (e.g. the novelty and non-obviousness requirements). Thankfully, the Supreme Court is tightening this up lately.
Thankfully, the Supreme Court is tightening this up lately.
I'm not so sure about this. The Supreme Court is attempting to define and apply standards that some experts consider arbitrary and highly subjective. One example is the attempt to make a distinction between a mathematical function and a novel software algorithm. It almost seems like the distinction is made based upon whether or not the particular justice writing the opinion is able to understand it. Some might even go so far as to say that only magic is patentable (recalling the oft-repeated Arthur C. Clarke quote).
I think the more appropriate distinctions between good patents and bad are in the subject matter of the claims themselves (e.g. the novelty and non-obviousness requirements). Thankfully, the Supreme Court is tightening this up lately.