[Lancaster] software patents in europe

[Serko Katsikian]

On that note, I would recommend to anyone interested in the subject to 
read the following speech by Stallman on software patents.

http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/danger-of-software-patents.html

cheers
Serko

On 13/01/2010 18:36, andy baxter wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> Thought you might be interested in this site which is about the
> continuing issue of software patenting in Europe. The history is that a
> few years ago a bill went to the EU parliament which would have allowed
> patents (not copyright which most people accept) on computer software.
> This would allow people to claim ownership not just of the code they
> have written but of the (often very simple) ideas and concepts behind
> it. The bill was rejected but in a way which leaves the legal situation
> unclear, and companies in collusion with the patent office are still
> abusing the law by claiming patent rights on things like:
> - the general concept having having a web shop.
> - a 'show larger image' link on pictures.
> - a box to let someone enter a rebate code.
> - web-to-print services.
>
> see here:
> http://webshop.ffii.org/
>
> there is a petition here:
> http://petition.stopsoftwarepatents.eu/
>
> If the companies behind the move for renewed software patenting get
> their way, we will end up with a situation where anyone writing web
> applications (for example) has to pay license fees for every tiny idea
> in the site, or risk having it shut down. This will push the web design
> business more into the hands of large corporations who have the
> resources to deal with such legal absurdities.
>
> If you want to, you can write to your MEP through this site:
> http://www.writetothem.com/
>
> andy
>
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