Re: [Patents] philosophical aspects of software patents

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

The French constitution states that there should be no private
monopolies.

This is of course to be understood as a principle, not a law.

In other words, any monopoly is considered a privilege, that has to be
justified with regard to the public good.

The law is not an issue ...  it is just the EPC.


Bernard


On Mon, Sep 01, 2003 at 11:28:01AM -0400, Gregory Aharonian wrote:
> Bernard writes:
> >This MEP is mistaken as to the role of patents to begin with ...
> >Patents are intended "to promote Progress of Science and useful Arts"
> >and to help economic growth.
> 
> I assume Bernard is quoting the U.S. Constitution where he writes "to
> promote Progress of Science and useful Arts".
> 
> Out of curiousity, what do the founding documents of European countries
> (or their statutues) say about the role of patents and copyrights?  For
> example, what do the French laws and constitution say?
> 
> Greg Aharonian

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