[SLUG] patents

[Farrell Burnett]

The response John received from MEPs is the stock answer:  we don't want 
to become like the US (where 'business methods' and other methods get 
patents) so we need a new law.  I would counter that we (Europe) ALREADY 
don't have what the US has so why do we need the directive?  I think 
this argument is a red herring, intended to lead us astray from the 
primary objections to the directive.

As we discussed at our meeting, there are two big problems for open 
source software developers in the directive.  First, more patents will 
clash with the General Public Licence and perhaps make it unworkable. 
Second, the directive is not at all clear about what a 'technological 
contribution' is and, in fact, I found the directive uses circular 
reasoning.  I mean to check up on the results of the workshops on the 
possible meaning of technological contribution which the government held 
in March.  I'll report back.

Farrell
-- 
Dr Farrell Burnett
30 Sussex Street, Scarborough, North Yorkshire  YO11 1BJ
Tel:  01723-341272; 07808612180 (mobile)
farrell at mount-liberty.demon.co.uk