Slashdot Mirror
EU Software Patent Directive Getting Hot
zoobab writes "Next wednesday, on the 6th July, the European Parliament will have the last chance to prevent US-style software patents in the EU. If the Parliament fails to reach 367 votes for the key amendments, then the Council directive will legalize business methods and software patents. Yesterday, many political groups have tabled amendments to patch the Council text. A demonstration online is running with currently 2400 websites shutting down until the vote. A physical demonstration is also planned in Strasbourg on next tuesday the 5th of July."
Sure, you moron, that will work!
You will sue IBM for one patent, then they will pull out ten software patents from their huge patent portfolio which your little piece of crap software infringes and you will cross licence your patent and pay for the remaining nine patents on IBMs side.
Great. Do you feel protected now?
Copyrights protect the implementation of the idea, not the idea itself. It is frequently the idea that is innovative, not the implementation of the idea. Why would a developer WHOSE SOLE MEANS OF INCOME is the production of IP want to weaken their position? Patents can provide an important protection for you - the individual, the small business, the corporation - against those that are looking to simply copy your ideas.
Fight the improper application of patents, not patent law.
Of course I have posted against the slashdot groupthink so you will probably never read this.
Copyright protection only protects the implementation, not the idea.
If I come up with a truly innovative idea, there is nothing to protect me against a mega-corporation simply taking that idea and implementing it - stealing any the R&D investment I have made. Is that what you want? In order to have a healthy industry you better have patent protection. The EU doesn't have a healthy software industry now - and the lack of patent protection is a big reason why.