software <> inventions

That's what opensource people say. I'm just curious about what they have to say about R&D of algorithms. How can a company who specializes in say creating efficient algorithms for physical and mathematical modelling still secure a profit while still making it's finds available to everyone? In such a senior I don't see how software <> invention.

Just reflecting on the opensource model....

>>8

The probability of a change in law: (amount of people with a similar frame of mind as yours)/(population count).

What's even more infuriate about software patents is that the inventor of said software will probably not have enough to pay for a patent. The company will therefore patent the intellectual property herself and the inventor will have little if any compensation whatsoever while the company may as well be making millions.