From phm@a2e.de  Tue Nov 21 20:21:15 2000
Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2000 21:21:15 +0100 (CET)
From: PILCH Hartmut phm@a2e.de
Subject: [Patents] natural forces

> You don't like a patent holder getting control of a new invention
> for 20 years?  Fine, but those in other industries (and consumers)
> have the same complaints as well.  You don't like patents
> restricting the flow and communication of ideas?  Fine, but those
> in other industries have the same complaint as well.  Software is
> not that special to be treated differently under the patent laws.

Software is, at least in the ideal case of free/opensource software, in
itself a transpersonal communicating system.  In chemistry, there is a
clear separation between chemical ideas, which can be disclosed and
communicated without interference from the patent system, and chemical
products and processes, which are material, location-bound and not part of
any communication system.





