Non-Nokia mobiles cost 30 eur extra

[PILCH Hartmut <phm@a2e.de>]

The last GregNews (http://swpat.ffii.org/players/aharonian/) contains a
lot of rants about how software patentability follows from "science" and
who unscientific European opponents of swpat are, this time especially the
people from UEAPME, whose recent PR must have been particularly frustrating
to Greg.

Most of this isn't really worth reading, but I'll copy the table of contents
and some excerpts here nonetheless.

-------------------

!20050315  Software patents in Europe; Nokia; Supremes; Microsoft

    --  Why I support software patents/quality for small businesses
    --  EuroCommission tells EuroParliament to accept/reject softpatlaw
    --  Nokia's 3G patents will give it a royalty edge
    --  Supreme Court asks Justice Department to define patent "idea"
    --  UK patent lawyer's frustration with software patent reform
    --  Economically unsupportable Euro criticisms of software patents
    --  Microsoft publicly supports patent quality reform

------------------------------------

    -  NOKIA'S 3G PATENTS WILL GIVE IT A ROYALTY EDGE

The Wall Street Journal Europe, 10 March 2005 page M1, had an article on
a competitive advantage Nokia will obtain from its 3G patents.  Some
estimates are that Nokia, because of these patents, will have about a
15% cost advantage when selling 3G phones, about $30, which in the cost
competitive cell phone industry is strategic.  Much 3G technology rests
on WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), with many patents held
by Nokia, Ericsson and Qualcomm.  Two competitors, LG and Samsung, don't
have many 3G patents, and will be paying higher royalty fees.  The money
is significant.  Qualcomm earned $112 million in WCDMA royalties in the
quarter ending December 26.

It would be interesting to analyze the Nokia and Ericsson patents to see
how software-ish they are - information they should forward to the EP.

    -  ECONOMICALLY UNSUPPORTABLE EURO CRITICISMS OF SOFTWARE PATENTS

Of course, the EC's announcement brought all of the usual end of the
world announcements from software patent critics in Europe - "criminal",
"unhealthy", "undemocratic", "Microsoft's benefit".  Some of the more
dubious, economically unsupportable criticisms came from Hans-Werner
Mueller, Secretary General of UEAPME - a European association for small
and medium businesses.  Some quotes from Mueller about the dangers of
software patents:

...

Also, Mueller is a hypocrite because this patent barrier in theory exists
for other industries for which some of the small and medium businesses
are members of UEATME. Is Mr. Mueller suggesting we get rid of all patents
- another closet anarchist wanabee?

....

I doubt highly Mr. Mueller knows enough IP law to realize how weak and risky 
it is to rest open source licenses on copyright. UEATME might want to find a
new director.

...

--
Hartmut Pilch, FFII.org, Munich Office +498918979927, Brussels +3227396262
Data Processing is not a Field of Technology        http://swpat.ffii.org/
380,000 Votes + 3000 CEOs against Software Patents  http://noepatents.org/