A little while back, I wrote a piece outlining the case for the total abolition (or non-introduction) of software patents, as seen through the lens of “promoting innovation”. Few of the arguments are new, but the “Narrow Road to Patent Goodness” presentation of the information is quite novel as far as I know, and may form a good basis for anyone trying to explain all the possible problems with software (or other) patents.
You can find it on my website.
European Patent Convention (EPC 1973)
http://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/epc/1973/e/ar52.html
”
Article 52
Patentable inventions
(1) European patents shall be granted for any inventions which are susceptible of industrial application, which are new and which involve an inventive step.
(2) The following in particular shall not be regarded as inventions within the meaning of paragraph 1:
(a) discoveries, scientific theories and mathematical methods;
(b) aesthetic creations;
(c) schemes, rules and methods for performing mental acts, playing games or doing business, and programs for computers;
(d) presentations of information.
”
“not … inventions: … programs for computers”
My goodness that is clear thinking. Thanks, Gerv. Tweetidenting about the article now.
Yes, indeed. However, that sadly doesn’t stop the EPO issuing them, and courts enforcing them. AFAIK, anyway – have any software patents come to litigation in Europe recently? What happened?
And still, if they are still a problem in the USA, they are still a problem for everyone in practice, because the web is World Wide, and we want standards that will work everywhere.
Hi Karl. What is “Tweetidenting”? This page is now the only hit in Google. Did you just coin a new word?
thanks for your views on this topic, you know what I was just thinking about this thing but could not find any article, thanks again, buddy!
I read full article, your information so informative………………….
Hey Karl,
Your article is really interesting and informative. keep sharing such articles!!
this really a good piece of information about software patents thanks for that
You have shared the great and informative article.
hi, thanks for sharing this informative piece of blog. keep updating these types of posts.