I wonder if some real algorithms were ever patented? I mean, just read Knuth, there are brilliant algorithms there that I would never invent myself. Various sorting algorithms, graph algorithms and so on. They are a foundation for our computing. But I never heard that quick sort was ever patented. Why is that?
> But I never heard that quick sort was ever patented. Why is that?
Quick sort is from a time before the USA decided that algorithms could be patented. In fact, most foundational algorithms of computer science are from that time. IMO, the development of computer science would have been hampered for a couple of decades had it been possible to patent algorithms back then; we're very lucky that this wasn't the case.
