From phm@a2e.de  Sat Apr 14 04:28:45 2001
From: phm@a2e.de (PILCH Hartmut)
Date: Sat, 14 Apr 2001 05:28:45 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: [Patents] historically abolished patent systems
In-Reply-To: <20010414005923.A2001@wonder>
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.33.0104140524030.18637-100000@mulix.oas.a2e.de>

> > 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 octroei=EBring can computerprogramma's: technicality of revoluti=
e ?'
>
> 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.

Generally in the mid 19th century there was a wave of criticism toward the
patent system in which many of the arguments used are the same we use
today.  For the history of the patent and anti-patent movements, first
read Machlup's report to the US congress, which you can find through

=09http://swpat.ffii.org/vreji/minra/siskuen.html

This itself is an economic classic, just as Machlup's book on the
economics of knowledge in the United States, both written around 1960.

-phm



