[Nottingham] Euro Software Patents

[Robert Davies]

On Tuesday 01 Jul 2003 18:47, Martin Garton wrote:
> On Tue, 1 Jul 2003, Robert Davies wrote:
> > I am not sure where the Labour MEPs (or Lib Dems) stand on this issue,
>
> I wrote very briefly to Nick Clegg (Lib Dem MEP who lives in Ruddington) a
> while ago. Incidentally, I believe Nick is chief whip for the Lib Dems in
> the European Parliament.
>
> I am sure he will not mind me reproducing his response:

I received the same response today, the Labour MEP with "responsibility" for 
East Mid is Mel Read according to Philip Whitehead, but so far nothing on 
this.

It seems important that Labour abandon the Arlene McCarthy line, her Guardian 
Article http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,975126,00.html claims 
that patents are needed to allow small and medium firms to license their 
software products and reap rewards of innovation.  This of course ignores 
completely the already effective Copyright based licensing system already in 
place, which was specifically created to protect Authors rights, and reward 
them for intellectual work, as opposed to patenting which was necessary for 
physical inventions.

Books and software can be published in huge volume by Authors, wheras for 
physical manufactured inventions patent licensing is necessary to permit 
copying (with reward to inventor) by other manufacturers.

Rob