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EU Court Adviser Says Software Ideas Can't Be Copyrighted
bhagwad writes "The EU continues to ooze common sense as a court insists that software functions themselves cannot be copyrighted. Drawing a box or moving cursor are examples. To quote: 'If it were accepted that a functionality of a computer program can be protected as such, that would amount to making it possible to monopolize ideas, to the detriment of technological progress and industrial development.'" Note that this is a "non-binding opinion by Yves Bot, an advocate-general at the Luxembourg-based EU Court of Justice,"
and that the court "will rule on the case next year."
Can you point out to those folks on the other side of the Atlantic that software patents stiffle invention and innovation.
Thanks.
Sigs. We don't need no steenking sigs.
Because that was a design patent, not a utility patent on a software concept.
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There are so many lawsuits flying around over patents, copyrights and wishful thinking that it's no wonder we are in recession. It doesn't matter what you want to do, you are going to get sued by someone. So why bother? People don't.
What's the difference?
A design patent is specifically about the look and feel of a product. This may include rounded corners. It does not rely on prior art in that no one made an electronic device with rounded corners before, but that this tablet computer with rounded corners and certain other features is a certain look and feel that does not exist yet in the tablet computer market.
And, how is that difference relevant?
A design patent is look and feel, a utility patent is how you do something.
It is really quite simple when you quit trying to make it difficult.
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In my mind, it's better to use that choice in such a way as to try to effect positive change whereever you can
Ranting on Slashdot is very unlikely to change patent law. But if it makes you feel better, carry on, but don't try to convince anyone it is to bring about positive change.
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I love how corporations are, supposedly, people, but noone expects them to act ethically or for the good of the society. One would think, it was ment to be the other way around...
You can't copyright a recipe but you can copyright a cookbook. Likewise you shouldn't be able to copyright a software design/function but you should be able to copyright a software implementation of that design/function.
Support Right To Repair Legislation.
"Copyright is for protecting written information."
Copyright is for controlling the distribution of information. The only protection for information is duplication and distrubition.
Great Intellect...
Very good. You mind if I use that?
You are welcome on my lawn.