its ok to grant a temporary monopoly. yes. But what is not obvious is that the duration of 8 years (and 20 for a more extensive protection) is way way too long for software patents. Most software patents (especially these days) are blatantly obvious and yet granted. What is not taken into account when a patent in granted (again i can only talk of software) is how much "effort"is required to come up with the idea (or rather the method of implementing the idea). Id say any more than 2 years is being too generous and enough to stiffle innovation.
