From SlashDot: by paranoic (126081) on Thursday July 10, @01:12PM

If pens where made by software companies ...

There would be no guarantee that they would work or do anything useful at all.

You may not reverse engineer them.

You may not use them to write disparaging remarks about the company.

Amazon.com would own the patent to writing with them.

The ink would run out at predetermined time and only refills made by the original manufacturer would work.

Clicking the button on the end of the pen indicates your acceptance of these terms of use.

Only the purchaser may use the pen.

The pen would collect information about your writing habits, and transmit this information to the manufacturer each time you 'upgraded' the ink cartridge.

You may only use paper compatible with your pen.  The company would make sure that only *its* paper would work with their pens.

Manufacturers would be pushing for legislation requiring they receive a fee for every letter written by the pen.

Some people would independently develop their own "open" pen and paper systems, where pens and papers would work interchangeably, only to be sued by SCO for violating the copyright on their pen design.