While I agree that software patents stifle innovation, I did
not sign the petition because the petition did not limit its
statement to condemning software patents; rather, it also
condemned various groups of people without justification. (01)
For example, when I clicked on the link to see the "record of
abuses", no such abuses were listed on the magazine page
that came up. (02)
"Peter P. Yim" wrote:
>
> Thanks, Gary.
>
> I've signed it, and am passing it along.
>
> If I may just cite one reason why I signed, I'd say:
>
> "If the patent process were originally intended to encourage
> innovation, then allowing for software patents would hurt that cause a
> lot more than it would promote it."
>
> -ppy
> --
>
> Gary Richmond wrote Thu, 18 Sep 2003 09:11:23 -0400:
> > I'm forwarding most of an email I received from Uta Priss
> > regarding a EU vote that could profoundly effect open-source
> > software in Europe. Uta wrote:
> >
> >> The European Parliament is voting next Tuesday on whether
> >> or not to introduce US-style software patent laws in
> >> Europe. This legislation would mainly help large
> >> companies, who own most of the patents and can afford
> >> patent lawyers. Apparently, even obvious ideas, such as
> >> the progress bar used in software installation and the
> >> folder look for selecting options have been patented (by
> >> IBM and Adobe, respectively). This means that any
> >> open-source software that happens to implement these
> >> ideas, could no longer be used commercially without
> >> licensing these features. It might mean that companies
> >> would no longer be able to use Linux computers.
> >>
> >> There is a petition which can be signed (also by
> >> Non-Europeans):
> >>
> >> http://petition.eurolinux.org/
>
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