Re: [Patents] Microsoft to pay .5 bn for license to extend web-browser

[<xdrudis@tinet.org>]

> 
> The logic makes much sense for European software companies - 
> maximize their
> patenting dollars by applying for a US software patent.  But it is 
> mucheasier for European companies can do so if they can first file 
> for a
> software patent in Europe and then file a child patent application 
> in the
> United States.  The current nonsense about software patents in Europe,
> and the extra hurdles European companies have to jump over, puts 
> Europeancompanies at a disadvantage.
>

I understand that patenting is cheaper in the USPTO than the EPO,  
but I fail to see why it should be easier to patent at home than 
abroad. I thought the Paris convention of 1883 would forbid that
foreigners have more difficulties than nationals in patenting.

In fact, Europeans have the advantage to be able to play stupid 
software patent games in the USA if they want while being safe at 
home. In other words, in Europe you don't need to create a single
purpose company to attack a USA giant, so that it has nothing to lose if
the giant fights back with software patents. The mere fact of attacking
from Europe prevents the USA giant fighting back, no matter how much
software,
services, etc. are you seeling in Europe. As long as we don't get
software patents legalized in Europe, that is.