Re: [Patents] re: UK software company kicked out of US

[Russell McOrmond <russell@flora.ca>]

Rik asks:
>I can't see how Greg would justify software patents in the EU when it
>would just stifle innovation in more places than one...

On Mon, 16 Dec 2002, Gregory Aharonian wrote:

> First, there is ZERO statistical or economic data that shows that
> software patents stifle innovation any more than patents in other
> areas of technology.


Greg,

  All patents are a government enforced monopoly, and monopolies are
generally understood as being economically harmful.  The burden of proof
*must* be on the people who want to create additional categories of
government enforced monopolies, not the other way around.

  The necessity of a patent monopoly in the software and business model
category, as an incentive for innovation, has *never* been demonstrated in
any way.  In fact, far too many people like yourself seem to
inappropriately attempt to put the burden of proof on those who support
Free Markets rather than those who support unnecessary intrusions into free
speech and expression.

  As someone who has an economic vested interest in any confusion around
patents, it is obvious where your bias will come from.  As a small
business trying to avoid land-mines being set by various economic vested
interests, it is obvious where my bias will come from.

> Greg Aharonian
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