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Software Patents Hurt The Economy
There are many reasons to oppose the introduction of software patents in Europe. They are bad for business, bad for the public sector, bad for anybody who ever uses a computer, and disastrously bad for those who make their living developing computer programs, often in small and medium sized companies.
The only ones who stand to gain anything from software patents are a handful of the very largest international (read American) enterprises, who can cement their respective monopolies, and not have to worry about competition from innovators.
And all the patent lawyers, of course, who would see it as a gift from above if patent litigation in Europe became as widespread and lucrative as it is in the US.
Links
Acacia - Software Patents In Practice
Acacia Technologies has a patent on the idea of sending streaming video over the Internet. The patent has been granted both in the US and in Europe. If your company uses streaming video anywhere on your web site, you'll have to get a patent license from Acacia. Otherwise you'll be infringing. Acacia is willing to offer patent licenses to businesses, in exchange for 2% of their gross turnover.Why Are Software Patents Bad, If Other Patents Are Good?
- How can you be in favor of mechanical, chemical and pharmaceutical patents, but still be opposed to software patents?
Today, an ever increasing portion of R&D budgets are spent on software
development. Doesn't this mean that we should extend patentability to
cover computer programs as well?
(In Swedish only)
e-Patents And Financial Investing
Speech held by venture capitalist Laura Creighton, where she explains the reason why society chooses to grant patents in other areas, and why those reasons simply don't apply to software.
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FFII.se, May 2004 The text is public domain. |
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