Only if by "idea for a book" you mean "comprehensive description sufficient to exactly reproduce the book".
>It's an issue with the current incarnation of software patents.
No, it's an issue with the patent office's current process for approving patents.
>In the real world an IC car can rightfully be criticised for being bad for the environment.
Yes, but that doesn't mean a car is worse than a truck.
Potato potahto.
>Yes, but that doesn't mean a car is worse than a truck.
Is the truck a metaphor for hardware patents?
That depends if the trucks actually do run on bio diesel and have a full carbon capture and particulate filter fitted.
Only if by "idea for a book" you mean "comprehensive description sufficient to exactly reproduce the book".
>It's an issue with the current incarnation of software patents.
No, it's an issue with the patent office's current process for approving patents.
>In the real world an IC car can rightfully be criticised for being bad for the environment.
Yes, but that doesn't mean a car is worse than a truck.