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

[Bernard Lang <Bernard.Lang@inria.fr>]

On Mon, Dec 16, 2002 at 02:07:52AM -0500, Gregory Aharonian wrote:
> 
> 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...
> 
> First, there is ZERO statistical or economic data that shows that
> software patents stifle innovation any more than patents in other
> areas of technology.

none that you would accept anyway.

  I assume Rik is a programmer, and would
> suggest that he talk to people in other industries where patents
> are one part of business strategy.  Indeed, it would be hard to
> measure such a minor effect in light of issues (like the dot-com
> crash) that affect the economics of the software industry.  Since
> there is nothing holy about software, much like other industries
> that have to deal with patents, so too does software.
> 
> Second, the observation about the UK company was meant to illustrate
> the global nature of these issues.  Europe is free to abandon logic
> and reason and deny patents for software.  But if European companies
> want to be players in foreign markets (especially the US, Japan, China
> and Australia) where software patenting is alive and kicking, then
> European companies are going to have to have patenting strategies
> in those countries.  The point of my poem was that it is always
> cheaper and more cost effective to start your patenting strategies
> in your home country, much more cheaper.  And have foreign patents
> are no guarantee of success, as the UK company's plight showed -
> even with US patents, it still lost.
> 
> And frankly, I think more European businesspeople are realizing that
> the current Euroepan patent policies in areas like software and
> business methods, are a form of unilateral disarmament. 

 bad reasonning again

  not disarmament, but making weapons ineffective in our countries.

  If we could do that with war weapons, the USA would not be putting
this planet on fire as they are now doing.

   all you want, all you are most likely paid for promoting, is to
have us let you develop your violence in Europe so as to destroy our
industry.

   We are quite willing to have (patent) war on US soil, if you so
wish it.  We do not want it in Europe or anywhere else.

   Your US companies and finance industry have been so dishonest that
your government is now prepared to settle on a large fine (apparently
large, because a billion dollars is really peanuts for those
industries) so as to avoid any investigation which would uncover for
everyone the kind of society you are promoting.


> So, now that
> I think of it, I STRONGLY URGE EUROPE TO REJECT SOFTWARE AND BUSINESS
> METHOD PATENTS IN ALL FORMS.  And while you are at it, Europe should
> also have mandatory 20 hour work weeks, four months of paid vacations,
> and should double their agricultural subsidies.

I am personnally opposed to agriculture subsidies ... but I doubt any
american is well placed to comment about economic subsidies.

And if you are so worried about our welfare, let me tell you that we
feel quite alright without your help.  I would suggest that you spend
your energy on helping developing countries, which are physically
destroyed by patents ... just for the sake of patents.

But why should I expect robots to care about human beings.


Bernard Lang

PS a riddle for everyone:

   what is the connection between Venezuela and Irak  ?



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