Pedestrian licenses?

[Russell McOrmond <russell@flora.ca>]

On Thu, 23 Oct 2003, Alex Macfie wrote:

> At 10:45 22/10/03, Jean-Baptiste Soufron wrote:
> >  Is is fair to let car drivers deal with how to get a
> >driving licence?
> 
> Yes but it would be a completely stupid and unnecessary burden to force 
> cyclists to get a "cycling licence".

  Even closer to the software patent situation, most people would consider
it a human rights violation to require a "pedestrian license".

  Patent law is like transportation.  Some methods make sense to be
patentable such as those involving complex manipulations of nature, and
some do not such as information processes like software, business models,
methods of organizing people, etc.  This is like the hierarchy of
transportation where there should be no licensing/testing for pedestrians,
licensing/testing for motorists and much more strict licensing/testing for
pilots.  Treating all methods to solve problems the same under patent law
is about as sensible as treating all modes of transportation the same.

---
 Russell McOrmond, Internet Consultant: <http://www.flora.ca/> 
 Governance software that controls ICT, automates government policy, or
 electronically counts votes, shouldn't be bought any more than 
 politicians should be bought.  -- http://www.flora.ca/russell/