Re: [Patents] Reponse du ministre de l'industrie par rapport aux brevets logiciels

[Francois PELLEGRINI <pelegrin@labri.fr>]

Re all,

Flemming Bjerke wrote:
> Fredag 14 maj 2004 09:43 wrote Denis Chalon about [Patents] Reponse du 
> ministre de l'industrie par rapport aux brevets logiciels:
>
> > Lorsqu'une entreprise du secteur logiciel souhaite proteger sa
> > propriete intellectuelle, elle garde le "code source" secret.
>
> In 2002 the main argument that the Danish Minister of Industry defended 
> software patents with, was that the alternative to patenting software is 
> keeping software innovations secret. That would hamper innovation and SME's 
> opportunities. 
>
> Just to point to how your argument could be twisted.

But keeping the code secret has noting to do with
keeping the ideas secret. I can have the ideas when
looking at an existing software, and I do not
need the code at all if I think that I can re-do
it more efficiently by myself.

Copyright monopolizes code. Patents monopolize
ideas.

Having code secret gives the first seller an advantage,
while preserving competition.
Having a patent gives the patent holder complete control
over the field, destroying competition.



                                f.p.