EU Software Patent Directive Getting Hot

Posted by CowboyNeal on Saturday July 2, 2005 @03:51AM from the so-take-off-all-your-clothes dept.

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."

1 of 232 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

Re:Oh no by 110010001000 · 2005-07-02 04:13 · Score: 1, Troll

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.