Update on Software Patents in the EU

jmason writes "An update on the EU's deliberations regarding software patents is up on the www.freepatents.org site: "the European member states of the Munchen convention have decided to wait for one more year before taking a decision on article 52.2, which says that computer programmes as such are not patentable. The European Commission (DGXV) seems to be pushing for more software patents rather than for more control on trivial software patents with no industrial application." "

Comments

I will fight

[Anonymous Coward]

I have written few pieces of free software that infringe on numerous US patents. Even if the EU law changes to allow software patenting I will continue and go down as a martyr if need be.

I don't have the time or the will to investigate whether something is patented or not. If it suits my purposes I will use it and release the source. How am I supposed to know if something in an scientific article is patented or not. I don't care, so sue me.

Destroying free software by patenting is unethical, I urge people to boycott all companies that are restricting non-profit software by suing free software authors. Free software is for the common good and if companies are against it then they are also agaist their customers, the people. Software copyrights are enough. If they develop some revolutionary technology then let them keep it secret for all I care. Restricting programming freedom is the same as restricting the freedom of speech, the source code is my opininion and I'm entitled to express it in public.

IBM was trying to get a Patent for WHAT???!!!

[Bretai]

Did anyone click on the 96305851.6? It looks like IBM was trying to get a patent in Europe for:

Title of invention: Method and system in a data processing system windowing environment for displaying previously obscured information

I've been a Database programmer for many years, and I can tell you, the above description can mean about anything.
Does anyone remember when OpenMarket patented the web shopping cart? This shows how moot the patent process has become reguarding software.
If you missed it, i recommend reading the Herring article: "I'm gonna sue your ass" it really points out the folley of patenting software. My humble opinion is that all the patents do is make it hard for anyone to compete unless they have a million dollar patenting department full of IP (Intelectual Property) lawyers. Patents are a hold over from "Ivory Tower/cathedral" programming, discourage colaboration. The exact opposite of the Open Source ideals. I hope the EU gets the point. Even if the US still hasn't...