Patents possibly gone wrong. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/11/stupid-patent-month-patent-using-mathe... Claim 1 of the patent describes creating mathematical “axioms”—formal mathematical statements—that describe a computerized trading forum. The patented method then describes analyzing, with a “computer assessment system … the mathematical axioms that describe the operation of the trading forum.” In other words, the patent describes using formal proofs to check for bugs in a “computerized trading forum.” It’s formal verification—just applied to the financial services industry. -- T o m M i t c h e l l