Patents, in the field of software, are seen by the [[free software community]] as being a problem. In response, various defense mechanisms have been tried to defuse patents involving software. Some with a degree of success, others have met with debate and derision. These mechanisms highlight the view among vocal anti-"[[software patent]]" campaigners that the [[software patent debate]] is a black and white issue and that any patent involving or that might cover software is, without question, bad.<ref>[http://www.ifso.ie/documents/rms-2004-05-24.html The Dangers of Software Patents], Richard Stallman 2004, "Allowing someone to patent building a signaling machine to display lights to tell a train what to do, okay, I'm not an expert on how to run railways, but such a general patent that would cover what goes on in software would have to be rejected, or else we have to perhaps say we would have to say that it doesn't apply to the software."</ref>
