Report Says Patents Threaten Software Innovation

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Report Says Patents Threaten Software Innovation

Posted by michael on Thursday September 23, 2004 @12:54AM from the saying-the-obvious dept.

GORby_ writes "According to PriceWaterhouseCoopers, software patents are 'a particular threat to the European ICT Industry.' Quote from the report: 'There are particular threats to the European ICT industry such as the current discussion on the patent on software. The mild regime of IP protection in the past has led to a very innovative and competitive software industry with low entry barriers. A software patent, which serves to protect inventions of a non-technical nature, could kill the high innovation rate.' The full report (pdf) discusses Europe's ICT strategy."

8 of 274 comments (clear)

In further commentary to this story... by SirFozzie · 2004-09-23 00:58 · Score: 4, Funny

Slashdot users say.. "Well, DUUUUHhhhh.."

--
People Talking in Movie shows.. people smoking in bed.. people voting republican.. GIVE THEM A BOOT TO THE HEAD!
In another news... by Cyberax · 2004-09-23 01:00 · Score: 2, Funny

Smoking causes cancer!
1. Re:In another news... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-23 02:45 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  This is right
  There is a direct correlation between eating and death.
  
  do you know of anyone who has died but has never eaten anything? I think not!
Introducing Monday by ozric99 · 2004-09-23 01:23 · Score: 2, Funny

Is this the same Price Waterhouse Coopers that recently changed their name to Monday and registered introducingmonday.com forgetting to register the .co.uk domain? :D
Dear Megacorp, by Boss,+Pointy+Haired · 2004-09-23 01:24 · Score: 4, Funny

Thank you for your letter of 28 September 2004, the contents of which I note. :D

In it, you are asserting that $FEATURE of my software product is infringing upon your $PATENT.

What is interesting, is that we recently received a similar letter from another company claiming that $FEATURE is infact an infringement of their $PATENT.

On further examination, it would appear that the USPTO has awarded you both a patent for the same thing ROAFLOL :D

If you chose to take this action no further we shall also consider this matter closed. If, however you wish to continue with a claim for breach of patent infringement our first line of defence shall be to have your patent annulled on the grounds of duplication. You may wish to consider this seriously if you are already receiving royalties from $PATENT from other parties.

Yours,

PHB.
this just in! by loonicks · 2004-09-23 01:36 · Score: 2, Funny

A recent study shows that 3 out of 4 people make up 75% of the population!
Re:Minister Brinkhorst by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-23 01:43 · Score: 1, Funny

The latest rumours are that it was a rather serious infection, which might have killed him.

Bah! Madam Pomfrey will have him fixed up in no time.
Re:Read as "Parents Threaten Software Innovation" by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-23 13:43 · Score: 1, Funny

Not the only one... I was like "Tell me something I don't know! Sheesh!" And then I RTFA and I was like "Tell me something I don't know! Sheesh!"

Now, "Software Innovation Threatens Procreation" is what I call a headline!