From sf@fermigier.com  Tue Nov 28 09:42:59 2000
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 10:42:59 +0100
From: Stefane Fermigier sf@fermigier.com
Subject: [Patents] DTI wades into software patent debate

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/15016.html

The Department of Trade and Industry and an American law professor have jumped
into the European software patent punch-up. 

[...]

Professor Richard Stern of George Washington University Law School reckons that
even if Europe decides not to go with software patenting, the effect of it in
the US will damage European Web business. If it does go with it, all hell will
break lose. He uses the Napster, One-Click and MP3 cases as examples of how the
Internet will clash head-on with existing patent laws. 

The logic behind this depressing scenario is fairly clear: smaller companies
will be unable to compete under prohibitive licenses, multi-nationals will
waste billions of pounds fighting pointless legal battles.  According to Stern,
the Internet could falter and fall over as a result.

	S.

-- 
Stfane Fermigier, Tel: 06 63 04 12 77 (mobile).
<www.portalux.com>: le portail Linux / logiciel libre.
"Amazon: we patent the dot in .com"




