More conservative! I don't think so: We banned the death penalty years ago, and I don't think we ever permitted the execution of childred (unlike the US). Our government and constitution are liberal and humane, and reflect the inate compassion of the people of Ireland. We permit free speech, we provide universal free healthcare, and you'r free to complain about it (which many do), we provide universal free education including University fees), and there are jobs for everyone who wants one. We are a small country with a big heart, and we are the wealthiest country in the European Union apart from Luxembourg. So don't knock our little republic. It has transformed itself from a retarded, conservative, destitute state 20 years ago, to a great place to live for all today , and people here say they are the happiest in Europe!
Software patents exist de-facto in the EU and even if the european parliament wants to get rid of them they will have great difficulty. Firstly, owners of such patents would have to be compensated, and secondly, some national governments, and national industry and trade bodies (Ireland for example) see these as a good thing, enabling small innovative companies to protect their inventions. Small companies and investors also avail of major tax breaks on earnings from patent royalties.
Read tribal chiefs or village elders or whoever is the traditional boss, who will use the PC to make money and further disadvantage the people who can really make a difference - the educated youths, workers, and free thinkers.
This will just reinforce the corrupt and stagnant structures that make 3rd world countries 3rd world.
When an aid team goes into a village to build a well for a clean water supply - where are they told to build the well, not in a public area where everyone can use it! No, the best place for a well is always in the chief's compound or yard. Odd that isn't it?
Irish government has also allocated a large chunk of RF spectrum for research purposes, specifically related to this project. Ireland can afford to do this because it is an island, and also because it doesn't waste so much spectrum on military/security reservations (but it does have an army, air-corps and naval service, as well as polic, Civil aviation etc..). This allocation of spectrum is, it appears, the largest such allocation in the world, and puts Ireland in a very strong position to leverage investment in R&D in this sector. Already, many US, European and other R&D groups are clamouring for access to this spectrum to conduct R&D over a large geographic area using this spectrum allocation.
The correct name for this country is Burmah. The other name "Myanmar" was imposed by an illigitimate government, and therefore is not the legitimate name for this state. Someday in the near future, a democratic and free government will probably change Burmah's name to Mayanmar, but until then, its Burmah
- Ripping them off,
- Get a fair hearing
- Protect their investment intellectual property (often many millions of dollars).....
Does hiding that information make the system better????
Yes, 7K would be very cheap for a patent, but the idea is that you delay incurring costs until such a time as you product is commercial. If you have a commercial proposition with investors on-board , then patent fees for US and Europe which will considerably more than 7K (try 27K) will not be significant.
"Many" is not the same as a "substantial percentage", and "building a business around a patent" is not the issue at all. All I'm saying is that many companies have taken this route and for very legitimate reasons - tax incentives and to aid in achieving funding. Many startup sotware companies need to gain the support of venture capital funds and / or early stage investors if they want to survive, and if patents help attract them, then thats what you do. If they enable you to pocket cash tax free too, all the better. Software is a business, not a game. There are risks in every business of course, but a good patent search is a small investment to make if you are investing time and money in a project. "Fail to prepare... prepare to fail etc."
20% of the identified European "computer-implemented invention" patents belong to small and medium-sized enterprises! That counts as MANY in many people's understanding.
and...
37% of the identified SME patents belong to traditional pure data processing patent categories...
Do a patent search - use any of the on-line resources such as EPO or USPTO web sites.
You need to be thorough. Also, if you can find public domain prior art, then you free to sell your idea. If you can find neither, file a preliminary patent in your home country - cost about Euro 1200 Iin Ireland) and gives you almost world-wide protection for a year to develop the idea and business plan, raise money etc..
Venture Capital companies like to see this approach asn it affords maximum protection and opportunity to commercialise. Not bad for 1,200. If this is too much to invest, ask yourself why are you bothering at all.
It is wrong to imply that this hurts all smaller software companies. Many small professional software companies have protected their inventions with patents. This is especially true in Ireland where income from patent royalties is tax-free whereas income from non-patented royalties is taxed.
Here's what I don't understand. If you have something and can't patent it because someone else has done it, then you have not innovated. If you innovate, then nobody can have it patented already. So how does patenting something stop innovation?
Aren't we (computer scientists) all supposed to understand logic, are is that just old fashioned thinking?
A better question is "Are they allowed". The answer, no doubt is in the contracts.
If you think that they SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED IN FUTURE, then welcome to the world of POLITICS. Get involved in the process and learn how competing interests are balanced in the democratic political process, which is not perfect, but is the best one we have.
So if the Evil Empire is not to blame for all of this lobbeying, then who? Perhaps some small businesses or other institutions who have invested in protecting their research and intellectual property are in favour of patenting in the software sphere. Maybe these small businesses are expressing their opinions just as vocally, but more effectively than all of the ranting on this site!
In general, if the developer in question had indeed made his invention before someone else, AND HAD PUBLISHED this invention, then it is prior art, and public domain. In this case any patent would be invalid. All you have to do to repel any litigation is show that you published your invention prior to any patent being filed.
However, If the developer had kept his invention secrete, presumably in the hope of making a profit from it later, then he can't claim that it's prior art.
Patents are a contract - you PUBLISH your invention and you get protection for 20 years, after that it's public domain. Like any business, there are choices and risks to consider, and you takes your chances.
No, you're wrong in thinking this.
Every patent must be nationalised in every country for it to be valid in that country.
BTW, In Europe, we can't even agree on a single language to be use for patent's, or even how to determine which of a number of languages could be chosen as the definitive version.
Looks like Charlie McCreevey, Irish Commissioner is the man in charge here. Ireland is one of the strongest supporters of Software Patents because it has a vibrant indigenous software industry and sees patenting as an essential ingredient to maintaining this. V.C.s like patentable IP, I like V.C.'s money -> I like patents!
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More conservative! I don't think so: We banned the death penalty years ago, and I don't think we ever permitted the execution of childred (unlike the US). Our government and constitution are liberal and humane, and reflect the inate compassion of the people of Ireland. We permit free speech, we provide universal free healthcare, and you'r free to complain about it (which many do), we provide universal free education including University fees), and there are jobs for everyone who wants one. We are a small country with a big heart, and we are the wealthiest country in the European Union apart from Luxembourg. So don't knock our little republic. It has transformed itself from a retarded, conservative, destitute state 20 years ago, to a great place to live for all today , and people here say they are the happiest in Europe!
And what is China, a minor industrial nation? Yeah right!
Software patents exist de-facto in the EU and even if the european parliament wants to get rid of them they will have great difficulty. Firstly, owners of such patents would have to be compensated, and secondly, some national governments, and national industry and trade bodies (Ireland for example) see these as a good thing, enabling small innovative companies to protect their inventions. Small companies and investors also avail of major tax breaks on earnings from patent royalties.
Gee! reading this hurts my head
Read tribal chiefs or village elders or whoever is the traditional boss, who will use the PC to make money and further disadvantage the people who can really make a difference - the educated youths, workers, and free thinkers. This will just reinforce the corrupt and stagnant structures that make 3rd world countries 3rd world. When an aid team goes into a village to build a well for a clean water supply - where are they told to build the well, not in a public area where everyone can use it! No, the best place for a well is always in the chief's compound or yard. Odd that isn't it?
Free Software isn't Free then? I'm soooooo disillusioned
Irish government has also allocated a large chunk of RF spectrum for research purposes, specifically related to this project. Ireland can afford to do this because it is an island, and also because it doesn't waste so much spectrum on military/security reservations (but it does have an army, air-corps and naval service, as well as polic, Civil aviation etc..). This allocation of spectrum is, it appears, the largest such allocation in the world, and puts Ireland in a very strong position to leverage investment in R&D in this sector. Already, many US, European and other R&D groups are clamouring for access to this spectrum to conduct R&D over a large geographic area using this spectrum allocation.
The correct name for this country is Burmah. The other name "Myanmar" was imposed by an illigitimate government, and therefore is not the legitimate name for this state. Someday in the near future, a democratic and free government will probably change Burmah's name to Mayanmar, but until then, its Burmah
We can't have it both ways. A patent is a patent is a patent.
- Ripping them off, - Get a fair hearing - Protect their investment intellectual property (often many millions of dollars) .....
Does hiding that information make the system better????
...we can't patent software in Europe, only processes which may or may not be executed by a computer.
Yes, 7K would be very cheap for a patent, but the idea is that you delay incurring costs until such a time as you product is commercial. If you have a commercial proposition with investors on-board , then patent fees for US and Europe which will considerably more than 7K (try 27K) will not be significant.
"Many" is not the same as a "substantial percentage", and "building a business around a patent" is not the issue at all. All I'm saying is that many companies have taken this route and for very legitimate reasons - tax incentives and to aid in achieving funding. Many startup sotware companies need to gain the support of venture capital funds and / or early stage investors if they want to survive, and if patents help attract them, then thats what you do. If they enable you to pocket cash tax free too, all the better. Software is a business, not a game. There are risks in every business of course, but a good patent search is a small investment to make if you are investing time and money in a project. "Fail to prepare... prepare to fail etc."
20% of the identified European "computer-implemented invention" patents belong to small and medium-sized enterprises! That counts as MANY in many people's understanding. and ...
37% of the identified SME patents belong to traditional pure data processing patent categories...
Do a patent search - use any of the on-line resources such as EPO or USPTO web sites. You need to be thorough. Also, if you can find public domain prior art, then you free to sell your idea. If you can find neither, file a preliminary patent in your home country - cost about Euro 1200 Iin Ireland) and gives you almost world-wide protection for a year to develop the idea and business plan, raise money etc.. Venture Capital companies like to see this approach asn it affords maximum protection and opportunity to commercialise. Not bad for 1,200. If this is too much to invest, ask yourself why are you bothering at all.
It is wrong to imply that this hurts all smaller software companies. Many small professional software companies have protected their inventions with patents. This is especially true in Ireland where income from patent royalties is tax-free whereas income from non-patented royalties is taxed.
Here's what I don't understand. If you have something and can't patent it because someone else has done it, then you have not innovated. If you innovate, then nobody can have it patented already. So how does patenting something stop innovation? Aren't we (computer scientists) all supposed to understand logic, are is that just old fashioned thinking?
A better question is "Are they allowed". The answer, no doubt is in the contracts. If you think that they SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED IN FUTURE, then welcome to the world of POLITICS. Get involved in the process and learn how competing interests are balanced in the democratic political process, which is not perfect, but is the best one we have.
So if the Evil Empire is not to blame for all of this lobbeying, then who? Perhaps some small businesses or other institutions who have invested in protecting their research and intellectual property are in favour of patenting in the software sphere. Maybe these small businesses are expressing their opinions just as vocally, but more effectively than all of the ranting on this site!
So is still just Blah Blah Blah, or to put it another way all bun and no patty!
In general, if the developer in question had indeed made his invention before someone else, AND HAD PUBLISHED this invention, then it is prior art, and public domain. In this case any patent would be invalid. All you have to do to repel any litigation is show that you published your invention prior to any patent being filed.
However, If the developer had kept his invention secrete, presumably in the hope of making a profit from it later, then he can't claim that it's prior art.
Patents are a contract - you PUBLISH your invention and you get protection for 20 years, after that it's public domain. Like any business, there are choices and risks to consider, and you takes your chances.
No, you're wrong in thinking this. Every patent must be nationalised in every country for it to be valid in that country.
BTW, In Europe, we can't even agree on a single language to be use for patent's, or even how to determine which of a number of languages could be chosen as the definitive version.
Looks like Charlie McCreevey, Irish Commissioner is the man in charge here. Ireland is one of the strongest supporters of Software Patents because it has a vibrant indigenous software industry and sees patenting as an essential ingredient to maintaining this. V.C.s like patentable IP, I like V.C.'s money -> I like patents!
I'm feeling lucky, connect me to a random phone number...
This looks very like one of the patent threads that run here regularly, but with everyone on the other side of the line.
If copyright is so right and need protection by the law and litigation, why are patents so wrong???