"I have a very, very limited understanding of patent law, but striking down the idea of software patents makes no sense to me. My understanding is patents are an incentive for innovation: why would you invent anything if someone can steal your better mousetrap/operating system. The software industry doesn't seem to have a innovation problem, but shouldn't the government protect those advances?"
Source: http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/njbunk/2009/01/software-patents-and-such.php