From Luuk.van.Dijk@xs4all.nl  Fri Apr 13 23:59:23 2001
From: Luuk.van.Dijk@xs4all.nl (Luuk van Dijk)
Date: Sat, 14 Apr 2001 00:59:23 +0200
Subject: [Patents] historically abolished patent systems
In-Reply-To: <6055251.987199779090.JavaMail.imail@tiptoe>; from poiqwe@excite.com on Sat, Apr 14, 2001 at 00:09:39 +0200
References: <6055251.987199779090.JavaMail.imail@tiptoe>
Message-ID: <20010414005923.A2001@wonder>

On Sat, 14 Apr 2001 00:09:39 Erik Josefsson wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I came across the following facts:
> Switzerland and the Netherlands abolished their patent systems
> in, respectively, 1850-1907 and 1869-1912.
> My source doesn't tell why.
> 
> Does anybody know?

Prof. Verkade, (author of the report 

'Ruimere octroeiring can computerprogramma's: technicality of revolutie ?'

referenced on http://petition.eurolinux.org/consultation/) suggested
to me in a conversation that it might have to do with the blossoming
of Philips, unhindered by Edison's patents on lightbulbs.  I'm not
sure Philips existed in 1869 though.

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