IDG.NET: German study rejects software patents for Europe
Nov 21, 2001, 10:52 (8 Talkback[s])
(Other stories by Rick Perera)
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"A study commissioned by the German Ministry of
Economics and Technology has recommended that software patents,
which are legal in the U.S., should not be allowed in Europe.
The experts warned that a high rate of innovation,
interoperability, and the continued development of the open-source
model would be jeopardized if Europe adopted a rule allowing the
widespread patenting of computer programs, the ministry said in a
statement released Thursday.
European Commission officials are expected to unveil soon a
draft law harmonizing software patent regulations within the
European Union, which remain a patchwork of different rules among
the 15 member states. Current E.U. regulations forbid the patenting
of software on a European level, a position fiercely defended by
activists on the continent."
Complete
Story
Related Stories:
- Eric S. Raymond: Open Source Initiative's letter of comment on W3C's proposed RAND policy(Oct 10, 2001)
- CNET News.com: Will W3C mean dollar signs?
(Oct 06, 2001)
- W3C's Response to Public Comments on the Patent Policy(Oct 02, 2001)
- EU Software Patent Hearing Report is Online(Aug 04, 2001)
- Stallman's talk on "The dangers of software patents" available in Ogg format(Jul 29, 2001)
- EuroLinux Seminar on Software Patents(Jun 28, 2001)
- EuroLinux: U.S. Internet Patents to be Enforced in EU?(Jun 05, 2001)
- FSF: Software Patent examples coordinator needed.(May 28, 2001)
- Fortune: The Patent King(May 08, 2001)
- Bruce Perens: Software Patents vs. Free Software(May 04, 2001)
