"If we assume this company has no need of any of our patents then the have a 17-year right to take as much of our profits as they want."
Bill Gates.
.......... and then it got worse - for Bill.
For applications filed on or after June 8, 1995, the patent term is 20 years from the filing date of the earliest U.S. application to which priority is claimed (excluding provisional applications).
Mac, I tend to agree with you on pure software - and particularly 'plant' patents.