[Patents] historically abolished patent systems

[phm@a2e.de (PILCH Hartmut)]

> > 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