From phm@a2e.de  Mon Jan  8 12:11:49 2001
Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2001 13:11:49 +0100 (CET)
From: phm@a2e.de phm@a2e.de
Subject: [Patents] economic studies

> >Most people on this list are just concerned with software and perhaps
> >"the informational", but don't have a strong opinion on patents in general.
> 
> Which I argue is an unethical point of view.  

It is a modest point of view, reflecting a scientific "I know that I don't
know attitude" which you apparently lack.

The people in this mailing list know enough about the informational area,
not about that of natural forces, chemistry, pharmacy etc.
 
If the patent system produces bad results in one delimitable area, then in
is fair to eliminate it in that area.

This could be done area by area, if the specialists of the other areas
reach the conclusion that patents do more harm than good.

> There are enough similarities between the technology of software, and
> the technologies of other sciences, that any policy changes considered
> for software patenting must be considered for other areas of
> technology as well, ...

If there the patent system risks to be cut back area by area, then the
people who control the patent system will feel some pressure to reform.

You apparently don't want any reform.  Your main concern is in keeping
reform pressure away from patent offices.  The polemic pathos of your
PatNews mainly reflects the anguish of a self-contradictory attitude.

-phm 





