[Patents] DEMYC and YEPP oppose SW-patents

[Ville Oksanen Ville.Oksanen@turre.com]

Hi,

The following resolution was adapted in both YEPP (www.yepp.org) and DEMYC
(www.demyc.org) in DEMYC the decision was unanimous, in YEPP there was
actually a quite tight voting about it. Anyway, now its possible to say that
the whole center to right youth political field is against software patents.
The interesting question is, will YEPP raise this issue in coming EPP
congress.. (the chairman Michael Hahn the person this question should be
asked (he works in the Junge Union as a Secretary General).

Greets,

Ville Oksanen


Resolution on Computer Software Patents
Adopted by the YEPP Council Meeting 28.10.2000 in Helsinki

1) Noting  that European Patent Office is planning to remove computer
programs from the list of the things which can not be patented of  in its
next conference in end of November

2) Further noting the still existing great amount of unsolved problems in
software patents like:
* Abstract-logical nature of software, which is in conflict with
the patent system's requirement for concreteness and physical substance
*  Inefficient  long period of protection (20 years)
* The lack of IT-expertise among the patent inspectors which would lead too
wide patent claims to be accepted as has happened in the United States
* The problem of anti-competitiveness; US software patents, if easily
transferable to EU, could substantially narrow competition in the
European Union, give dominant position to US corporations and have
negative influence among european IT start-ups
* The negative effect of patents to the interoperability of computer
programs

3) Taking into consideration the strong opposition among small and medium
size companies towards software patents in Europe

4) Having in mind the enormous economic importance of computer software
industry and its need for effective protection for its investments

5) YEPP calls upon European political parties and the European Commission
(DG XV) to take immediate actions to delay all development on software
patents until the problems are correctly addressed
6) YEPP further calls for taking actions to strengthen the European software
industry by improving the regulatory framework on combating software piracy



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