The people in the system with the worst conflict of interest are the patent attorneys and various flavors of intellectual-property expert, who are always willing to argue passionately and at great length about the importance of securing patents, and how this is an essential part of any business strategy. They seem to really believe what they're saying, but when I listen to them my mind's eye just can't help seeing the fat envelopes stuffed with carefully-itemized five-figure legal bills crossing my desktop.
A cynic would say it's a self-perpetuating system whose costs greatly outweigh its benefits, and that we're hopelessly stuck in it. But then, I'm a cynic.
His essay is well worth reading - it's from a guy with doubts working inside the system, rather than just being a soapbox oration from someone with an opinion on the subject.
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