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In movies you can't have a patent for action cop movies with a surprise plot twist. That would be absurd. Just like generic software patents.


Don't look now but...

http://www.plotpatents.com/

They've actually been trying for some time now.


There are business method patents (Google "State Street Bank").

Michael Jackson attempted to patent some of his dance moves.

There's been discussion of patenting specific sports plays.

There are also discussions and stories looking at fields which work well without (or by ignoring) IP protections: comedians, fashion designers, jazz musicians. Even this bunch of hippie freaks doing something they call "free software", but I don't think that will ever amount to anything.




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