Re: [Patents] Research on Free Software Economics

[Bouthier Christophe <Christophe.Bouthier@loria.fr>]

On Thu, Jan 31, 2002 at 01:18:40PM -0500, Gregory Aharonian wrote:
> hough given copyright's impotence with regards to
> software, and GPL's reliance on copyright, GPL is effectively public
> domain anyways.
> 
> Greg Aharonian

Ok, I'm sure it's a troll, but let's try anyway.

It's not the first time that you say that software is NOT protected by
copyright. Here are some references that seems to prove the contrary :

--------------------------

TRIPS :
Article 10
Computer Programs and Compilations of Data 

1. Computer programs, whether in source or object code, shall be protected
as literary works under the Berne Convention (1971).


http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/t_agm3_e.htm

--------------------------

WIPO Copyright Treaty
Article 4 Computer Programs

Computer programs are protected as literary works within the meaning
of Article 2 of the Berne Convention.  Such protection applies to
computer programs, whatever may be the mode or form of their expression.


http://clea.wipo.int/lpbin/lpext.dll/clea/LipEN/46e4b/48c86?f=file%5Bdocument.htm%5D#JD_754ab

---------------------------

Convention de Berne pour la protection des oeuvres litteraires et
artistiques 

http://clea.wipo.int/lpbin/lpext.dll/clea/LipFR/1cdbf/1cdc0?f=file%5Bdocument.htm%5D#JD_20711

----------------------------

Code de la Propriete Intellectuelle (France)

Art. L.112-2. : 
Sont consideres notamment comme oeuvres de l'esprit au sens du present code :
13 Les logiciels

Translation in English :

Are considered as "spirits creation", for this present code :
13 Software

http://www.celog.fr/cpi/lv1_tt1.htm#112-2

-----------------------------


And this :
"Mr. Aharonian is a consultant to law firms and corporations, helping
them deal with software patenting and litigation issues, and
specializes in determining the invalidity or enforceability of issued
patents."

http://www.bustpatents.com/prior.htm

So you should now thoses texts, I'm sure.
So, what are your arguments that let you claim 
"copyright's impotence with regards to software" ?


Christophe Bouthier
Computer Science PhD student
LORIA, France
http://www.loria.fr