If the economy grinds to a complete halt, it will be because of the legal thicket created by stupid patents and the lawyers who subtract value by trying to enforce them. Today's entry in the stupid patent follies: IBM's "pay at the table" scheme:

"When the initial bill is presented, a balance due will be displayed and the indication will be provided that the bill has yet to be paid in full. As each transaction is entered, a running total will be displayed indicating the remaining balance due. When the running total reaches zero, the bill is paid in full, and an indication will be provided, such as by illuminating a green indicator light or by displaying a balance due of $0.00."

That's right, they've patented the same system everyone already uses (albeit mentally or on paper) to split a check. So it looks like IBM has three guys who put their names on this: Rodney Charles Dunsmore, Steven Lee Harington, and Mark Christian Speich. They must be so proud.

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