Is our patent system broken?

Is our patent system broken? Yes, I think it is. Lots of patent wars in progress at the moment. And extortion.

Did you know that Microsoft makes more money from Google's Android phone platform than from their own Windows phone platform? From Gizmodo:
"Did You Know Microsoft Makes Five Times More Money From Android than From Windows Phone?"
http://gizmodo.com/5806227/did-you-know-microsoft-makes-five-times-more-money-from-android-than-from-windows-phone

Did you know that Samsung has been blocked from selling its Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Europe, due to an injunction that Apple obtained? Without any prior notice to, or input from, Samsung? From Bnet:
"Apple Legal Victory: Court Blocks Samsung Tablet in Europe" by Erik Sherman
http://www.bnet.com/blog/technology-business/apple-legal-victory-court-blocks-samsung-tablet-in-europe/12219

Lots of ridiculous lawsuits, stifling innovation. But what should we do about it? Here are some common sense, if provocative, suggestions from Blog Maverick (Mark Cuban):
"My Suggestion on Patent Law"
http://blogmaverick.com/2011/08/07/my-suggestion-on-patent-law/

I happen to like Cuban's ideas. They are (boiled down from the post):

"1. End all software patents. Don’t make them shorter, eliminate them.
2. End all process patents. They serve absolutely no purpose. None."

Simple, right?