Doug Richards, tech business guru: "Patents not essential for software"

-> [ Venture Capital | Patent News ]

The Financial Times interviews Doug Richards, a technology guru who was a judge on the BBC hit series "Dragon's Den". He provides several tips for picking startup tech companies to invest in.

On the topic of software, he shares the following:

• Another relevant factor is the threat from competitors. Richard says Britains venture capital investors have traditionally been fascinated by defensive positions such as patents and trademarks. But he believes these defences are not essential  clear benefits to the customer and a headstart on the competition are enough. "I spent 20 years in software --- there's no defence. Yahoo, Google and Microsoft got by without defence."

Background information

• 2005-05-06 WW Financial Times: Words of wisdom from the dragon's mouth