[Patents] Problems with banning Software Patents

[mva@df.lth.se (Martin Wahlén)]

> Investors will adapt to whatever rules allow them to protect their
> investments, as do companies.  If you have rules that don't let them
> do so, they will take their investment monies to other countries.
> Further, companies in countries with bad laws (like a ban on software
> patents) will find it more difficult to export into other markets.

No, only if the market is small enough, potential earnings are allways
(well almost) weighed against the lack of protection. I would say that for
most producers that are exporting to europe loosing that sales is
significant. This is leverage that europe has in the WTO, ofcourse the
US has even more leverage in this regard.

Also look at South Africa against the medical companies, as far as I know
the investors in the medical arena had to give up on South Africa and
their laws.

Looking at the SMEs and their actuall need for IP protection (I keep
thinking Internet Protocol each time I see the term IP:-), I would like
to be refered to a serious study of their needs?

My arguments may be totaly off as I am a computer science student and not
someone who knows alot about IP (not the Internet Protocol), and I still
belive that Copyright protection on software is adequate.

Martin