[Patents] Press release about the BT patent on hyperlinks. -Reply

[Nicolas MONNET nico@monnet.to]

On Thu, 22 Jun 2000, Steve Probert wrote:

|Further to my earlier post, and for the avoidance of doubt, I should add
|that GB1581136 was granted under the British 1949 Act (the old Act),
|which did not have a specific exclusion for computer software. 
|However, having looked at GB1581136, there is no doubt in my mind that
|we would have granted it under the law as it stands today (assuming
|novelty and inventive step etc.).  In simple terms, it is not a computer
|program as such, and the present exclusion therefore would not apply.

If it's not "a computer program as such", what is it, a curry recipe?

IOW, are patents experts more qualified than a computer programmer to
decide wether something is or is not "a computer program as such"?

Let's all sing together: "Braaaaaziiiiillll ..."





Off-topic, but slightly related: I'm currently in NYC. I met a guy who was
arrested by 7 policemen with guns and stuff at 5am at his home. His crime?
He had once been fined for drinking beer in the street and forgot to show
up at the court hearing that ensued.

Clearly, we need to copy more of the american way, it HAS to be better for
e-business.

....