[Patents] simple questions

[Bernard Lang Bernard.Lang@inria.fr]

On Fri, Oct 13, 2000 at 11:48:52AM +0100, Steve Probert wrote:
> >The EPO and its clique are a bunch of dishonest, law-breaking and
> >self-serving oppressors relying on brute force.  Even if they manage to
> >adapt the law to their practise in November, this will be an unjust law,
> >which any honest citizien will have to disobey.
> 
> Don't beat about the bush.  If you don't like the EPO, just say so.
> 
> Seriously though, at some point we will need a fully informed debate in 
> Europe about the pros and cons of extending the field of patentable subject 
> matter.  Should patents be granted for computer programs as such?  Should 
> patents be granted for methods of doing business?  The US has already made 
> its choice on both of these matters, but there is a danger that any 
> consultation exercise will misfire over here because of a misunderstanding 
> about what is patentable now.
> 

I fully agree.  We need a debate, public, informed and
open... covering all issues, economic, political, societal, etc ...

That is essentially all we are asking for.

But the EPO is trying to force the issue, on purely ideological
grounds (that is the friendly view of it), without having analyzed the
issues, bypassing the democratic process (as they have been fond of
doing for many years), and keeping the proceedings as confidential as
possible.  Not to mention the procedure they have chosen, so as to
force a blocked vote on the complete proposal, unless one can get a
2/3 majority on isolated items, hence reversing by a procedural trick
the intent of the basic rule that states that changes must find a 2/3
majority.

  I think the words of Hartmut are just a bit too much on the soft side.

But never mind. I do agree we need a debate...  BEFORE making any decision.
                                                ==========================

Given your words, I take it the UK will oppose the EPO proposal in november.

Cordialement

  Bernard Lang

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