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Report Says Patents Threaten Software Innovation

Posted by michael on 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."

6 of 274 comments (clear)

  1. DMCA erosions by alatesystems · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It really is sad for IP and science in general when we have to go to court for a while to find out if we can make a garage door opener remote. The DMCA is possibly the worst thing that has ever happened to science in general. It lets companies be anti-competitive legally under a shroud of "protecting their intellectual property".

    We all(I already have) should be going to the EFF's DMCA Action Page.

    Contact your senators and representatives.(USA).

    Chris

  2. Re:Who commisioned the report? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Funny.. the preface is written by Brinkhorst, Who voted FOR software patents.(Against the will of the Netherlands Parlement)

  3. Minister Brinkhorst by Frans+Faase · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Most interesting is the fact that the Dutch parlement is trying to force Minister Brinkhorst to change his vote and that he continues to refuse to do so. The only reason he seems to be able to get away with this is that it is not a political issue, because the Dutch media not understanding software patents is not giving it any attention. The infection in the feet of our prime minister is far more interesting. (The latest rumours are that it was a rather serious infection, which might have killed him.)

  4. Here is a gem from the report:: by Pig+Hogger · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Breaktrough 6: Develop a strategic response to job migration to low-wage countries
    Economic growth and employment can be seriously affected by the accelerated job migration to low-wage countries. The EU needs to develop a strategic response.

    duh? Well, how about CUSTOMS TARIFFS designed to bring the price of low wages countries products more in line with those in the high wages coutries??? If a country pays jack shit to it's workers, the tarrifs go back in the importing country's government's pockets who can then use it to help increase that country's competitivity. But if it pays it's workers better, in turn, THEY BECOME MORE COMPETITIVE, because the receiving countries' tarrifs drop, and the extra price they are able to get for their products stays in the exporting country as profits, instead of tariffs in the importing country!!!

    Geee whizz, in the last century, Henry Ford generated quite a commotion when he raised his worker's pay; that enabled them to BUY automobiles, which propelled Ford at the forefront of the industry!

    But nowadays, bourgeois have no more foresight, and the swarms of MBAs they fatly pay have no more common-sense than a brain-dead sponge (with or without square pants), so they keep doing everything in the name of ultra-myopic short-sight. Free-trade only benefits the company owners, for the rest of the population, it means a steady decrease in the standard of living!
  5. Those interested in buying patents by tdvaughan · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Should check out the "Best Deals: Patents" link under "Related Links". Clicking on it allows you to Comparison shop for patents. Thank God the slashdot devs decided to implement this fantastic functionality rather than making Slashdot W3C compliant!

  6. Re:No shit. by Halo1 · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Software patents are a reality, whether you and me want them or not.
    They're not in Europe.
    There is too much money on the pro side for software patents to go away,
    There's also a lot of money to be lost on the other side for them to be introduced in Europe. In fact within about a week, you'll see a large campaign against software patents in Europe (carried by multinationals) being started.
    so stop dreaming. Better start thinking of ways to deal with the situation.
    Actually you'd better wake up to the real world, instead of believing you are one of those "realists"...
    --
    Donate free food here