Software patents

[theEclipse]

I stumbled upon this website this morning:

http://www.nosoftwarepatents.com

I have never heard of governments passing patent laws that pertain to software.

This site is obviously against such patents and they list their reasons.

I am curious as to what others think about such things.

I agree with the ideas and implications listed on nosoftwarepatents.com but they (as do most political propaganda) failed to speak of any benefits that the patents would have.

Robert Carpenter

Robert Carpenter
"Disobedience to conscience is voluntary; bad poetry, on the other hand, is usually not made on purpose." - C.S. Lewis (Preface to Paradise Lost)
ô¿ô

http://www.robertcarpenter.net

 

[Glenn9999]

Patenting software goes wholeheartedly against the laws, themselves since the concept of software fully falls under the issue of copyright. The problem with patenting is that you can patent the simplest and silliest of things when it comes to computing software and hobble the market. It's just purely anti-competitive. Case in point, there's people trying to file patents on the idea of the double-click in software. Or another legal rangle, the patent on LZW compression that was pushed on everyone after it got common (GIF anyone?)

 

[theEclipse]

Yep, and I think that article mentioned that some people were trying to push patent of ultra common widgets that go beyond all operating systems on computers and other devices.

Wacky widgets with odd names such as "scroll bar" and "point and click" interfaces. I have to wonder if someone is going to patent the idea of a general purpose "switch" or "button"

In further thinking (after you mentioned the LZW algorithm) I wonder if someone is going to try and patent commonplace programming algorithms such as quicksort and binary search trees. Now that I think of it I remember a TM or simmilar on the name of one of the sorts we studied. I have no idea on which one that could be though.



Robert Carpenter
"Disobedience to conscience is voluntary; bad poetry, on the other hand, is usually not made on purpose." - C.S. Lewis (Preface to Paradise Lost)
ô¿ô

http://www.robertcarpenter.net

 

[MDXer]

Software patents do exist and have been upheld.

http://cyberlaw.stanford.edu/packets/vol_1_no_8/001918.shtml

is one case that I believe must of us are familiar with.

Shoot Me! Shoot Me NOW!!!
- Daffy Duck

 

[Sympology]

If I'm not mistaken, BT (British Telecom) hold the patent to the hyperlink. I'd post a link to the article, but can't aford the licence fee...lol

Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[damber]

Some Stats:

http://swpat.ffii.org/vreji/pikta/index.en.html

Latest EU Parliamentary ruling:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4655955.stm

Some views on the benefits:

http://locut.us/~ian/blog/archives/39-What-is-wrong-with-software-patents.html

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