Before the first reading, she made a press release against software patents, and she was strongly on our side.
Can anyone find that PR now? (so I can give it to her assistant asap)
google isn't finding it for me.
On 30 Jun 2005, at 10:26, Ciaran O'Riordan wrote:
Before the first reading, she made a press release against software patents, and she was strongly on our side.
Can anyone find that PR now? (so I can give it to her assistant asap)
google isn't finding it for me.
Your wish is my command, unfortunately its an image:
http://4c.ucc.ie/~cbosch/dscf1033.jpg
Ian.
Great, thanks all 3!
I found
http://4c.ucc.ie/~cbosch/dscf1033.jpg
on
http://www.ifso.ie/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi/SoftwarePatents,
F
On 30 Jun 2005 10:26:48 +0100, Ciaran O'Riordan ciaran@fsfe.org wrote:
Before the first reading, she made a press release against software patents, and she was strongly on our side.
Can anyone find that PR now? (so I can give it to her assistant asap)
google isn't finding it for me.
-- Ciarán O'Riordan, | Support FSFE's work against http://www.compsoc.com/~coriordan/ | software patents by becomming | a Fellow: http://fsfe.org _______________________________________________ fsfe-ie@fsfeurope.org mailing list List information: http://mail.fsfeurope.org/pipermail/fsfe-ie Public archive: https://mail.fsfeurope.org/mailman/listinfo/fsfe-ie
On Jun 30, 2005, at 17:26, Ciaran O'Riordan wrote:
Before the first reading, she made a press release against software patents, and she was strongly on our side.
Can anyone find that PR now? (so I can give it to her assistant asap)
In plaintext...
AVRIL DOYLE MEP FOR LEINSTER
Brussels, 31stJuly 2003
Press Release
Innovation or Litigation?
EU to institute Software Patenting in Europe - Doyle
The European Parliament is due to debate a controversial Directive on software patenting in the upcoming September plenary session in Strasbourg. This proposal aims to clarify and harmonise the laws of the EU Member States, in line with our obligations underthe WTO’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The implications of this legislation for Irish software developers and the economy at large are a matter of great concern.
Under existing legislation, copyright is used to protect the lines of code written by a programmer, in much the same way as lines of text can be copyrighted in the field of literature. Patenting would aim to protect the ideas behind this software, i.e. the purpose for which the programme will be used, provided a significant "technical contribution" is made to the state of the art. The term "technical" is very ambiguous, however and provides a potential loophole.
The European Patent Office would be enhanced under this bill. In addition, lawyers specialising in intellectual property law stand to gain a considerable amount of business as software developers are taken to court for infringement of patents of which they may not have been aware. In addition to legal fees, however, the costs incurred in filing for a patent may place an onerous burden on small businesses.
With the launch of the Lisbon process, Europe has set itself the ambitious target of achieving excellence in the framework of a knowledge-based economy, centred on small and medium enterprises - the e-Europe strategy. In the light of this goal, the question we need to ask ourselves is whether patenting in this form will foster innovation amongst small software developers or will have a stifling effect and serve to concentrate access to information in the hands of large non European companies who can afford predatory patenting and expensive legal battles? We must bear in mind that American and Japanese companies already hold the majority of patents worldwide for many of the techniques used by Irish and European businesses in their products.
The effects of large-scale patenting by the big players is a highly contentious issue in the United States. Many experts are of the belief that the US patenting system has led to the establishment of monopolies and a consequent reduction in competition. The end result being a restriction of choice and increased prices for consumers.
The argument in favour of patents claims that they foster innovation by allowing companies to protect themselves against the initial costs of research and development. Where software is concerned, however, there is very often little financial outlay concerned at this stage, compared to developing pharmaceuticals for example. Software development is incremental, so that basic units of code are built upon by different developers, who produce completely new products. Affordable access to this information for small and medium IT companies must be safeguarded. Protection for software is necessary, but US-style patents are not the only option.
Given the enormous importance of the software industry to the Irish economy, any attempt to regulate the legal framework of this field should be undertaken in a far-sighted, well informed and cautious manner. We need to thoroughly research our options and debate the path that Ireland wishes to tread with regard to software patenting in order to maximize our competitiveness in this area.Serious engagement is needed from an Irish point of view to make sure that the right decisions are made.
ENDS
For further information please contact 087 2502101
Alex alex@cgce.net -- Interpol and Deutsche Bank, FBI and Scotland Yard Flensburg and the BKA, have our data. Kraftwerk, ComputerWelt (translated)