I'm not sure it's possible for people to imagine a different world that easily. The differences caused by software patents not existing are pervasive and cumulative. Like the surprising effects of compound interest, I think a world without the 20 years of software patents would be in many ways unpredictable or even inconceivable for those of us who lived through this reality.<p>The original question may make sense in a limited fashion, but it frames things poorly as it's asking for specific incidents to illustrate a systemic effect.