[Patents] German Minister of Justice speaks out against Swpat

[PILCH Hartmut phm@openecs.org]

> |> Ms Daeubner-Gmelin=20
> |...
> |> gave a press interview, in which she said that software patentability
> |> creates big problems for information society, which need to be thourou=
ghly
> |> and broadly discussed and that any plans to remove the computer progra=
m
> |> exclusion from Art 52 EPC must at least be postponed.=20
> |
> |and forgot to mention her strongest statement:  Ms D.G. said that if the
> |EPO persists in removing the computer program exemption from the EPC,
> |Germany should withdraw from the EPC and pursue an independent patent
> |policy through the European Union.
>=20
> Wow!
>=20
> She really said THAT?

At least Spiegel Online reports it, and their journalist Mr Schumann
usually does a good job of writing well-researched articles.

http://www.spiegel.de/druckversion/0,1588,100120,00.html

SPIEGEL ONLINE - 27. Oktober 2000, 16:52
URL: http://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/politik/0,1518,100120,00.html

Softwarepatente

Diplomatische Kraftprobe

Von Harald Schumann=20

Im europaweiten Streit um die Zulassung von Patenten auf=20
Computerprogramme geht Bundesjustizministerin Herta D=E4ubler-Gmelin in
die Offensive. Die von der Mehrheit der Mitgliedsl=E4nder des
Europ=E4ischen Patentamtes bereits beschlossene generelle Freigabe der
Softwarepatentierung d=FCrfe "vorerst nicht umgesetzt werden". =20

=2E..

Notfalls k=F6nne man auch das Abkommen insgesamt platzen lassen und
innerhalb der EU eine eigene Patentpolitik entwickeln.