Board index » delphi » Software Patents, Europe and the Psuedo Democracy

2005-03-08 11:38:31 AM
delphi12
Joy! Looks like we get software patents afterall in Europe! This article
sums it up:
comment.zdnet.co.uk/other/0,39020682,39190515,00.htm
Regards,
Lloyd K
 

Lloyd Kinsella writes:
This is a dissaster for small software companies and OSS.. For every
software u create and distribute u need an army of lawyers to do
research on which patents u hypothetically infringed on or could
infringe on in the future...not to mention the cost of registering a
patent - far too expensive.. Might as well give up?
very sad :(
siegs
 

Lloyd Kinsella escribió:
approved. If it is rejected in this second reading, the directive will be
restarted form begining, or cancelled.
Many European Countries are against this directive.
Regards, from Spain. (One of them).
I Hope will be cancelled, or rewrited.
P.D. Sorry for my bad english.
 

G writes:
a specific prohibition on software patents. I myself don't have a
problem with a software patent as long as they are kept to a minimal
amount of time, like 2 years. The current system we have in the US
is ridiculous.
--
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Wash DC Delphi SIG Chairperson
Delphi Client/Server Certified Developer
BSS Accounting & Distribution Software
BSS Enterprise Accounting FrameWork
www.bss-software.com
www.cpcug.org/user/delphi/index.html
https://sourceforge.net/projects/uopl/
sourceforge.net/projects/dbexpressplus
 

application of the patent, and a non-triviality. Currently there are
IP companies sprouting in the US (one by a former MS employee) who
have only two branches: ones that brainstorms and patents every single
silly idea they can come up with, quite often in very broad terms
(ala "save a file in a single click", "use of sinus/cosinus to render
colored gradients"), and another branch that just prepares itself
to sue the hell of everyone they suspect of infringing the patents
they were granted.
They don't even write code or sell software applications, they didn't
even try to put their ideas into practice, all they aim for are scare
tactics and settlements (even if they would win, small shops would
die from legal costs before courts decide on the issue, thus they
are faced with being right but broke, or shelling out dollars).
Eric
 

Eric Grange writes:
" It has no factories, machine shops or marketing teams. Only patent
attorneys populate the quiet hallways."
"To generate patentable ideas, Intellectual Ventures hired a dozen top
scientists as part-time consultants to participate in several all-day
gabfests each month, which the company calls "invention sessions."
Lawyers transcribe the discussions, which can range from biotech to
nanotech to solid-state physics, and follow up on the most promising
ideas with patent applications."
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Jarle
 

Jarle stabell writes:
exactly the reason for avoiding software patents. I really hope Europe
holds out and prevents software patents from taking hold. Then it will
at least be free to innovate.
Cheers,
Kevin.
 

Lloyd Kinsella writes:
Software patens serve one purpose - they generate revenue, lots of
revenue for lawyers. By the time the patent has passed all the
bureaucratic hinders and gone through all processes, the patented
software is most likely outdated. Outdated and replaced by new,
unpatented software that of course needs to be patented, and there you
are - in an endless loop.
You may still need the patent for the old software, as a threat to those
who may claim you violate their patens, gicving you ammo to fight back.
And to lay a smoke over facts, and obscure reality, you need as many
patens as possible, to frighten the other party from dragging you into a
trial.
What a ridiculous game, the play this game in The States.
I have one ore several US patents for a piece of software, written in
97-99. By the time all papers were signed and approved, this very
software had been replaced by completely new software, long before.
Is this coming here, to us, on this side of the pond?
OMG.
Have to change profession, the lawyer business seem to have a bright
future then...
--
Ingvar Nilsen
www.ingvarius.com
 

Eric Grange writes:
Will
--
Want native support in Delphi for AMD64/EM64T? Vote here--
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I can see it being implemented even with objections...hell the European
Council ignored Parliament so what's to stop Parliament ignore the moral
objections of it is constituents!
"Kevin Berry" <XXXX@XXXXX.COM>writes

Ingvar, that is called sarcastic humour :)
"Ingvar Nilsen" <XXXX@XXXXX.COM>writes

Eric
 

chances are they have code that does something similar enough
somewhere if their application is big enough. At worst, you'll
have them swamped in legal costs for years, and you will also have
their developper teams scout their code in search for potentially
patented code (and while they scout the code, they don't develop
anything new).
Arf!
Eric
 

Lloyd Kinsella writes:
--
Ingvar Nilsen
www.ingvarius.com
 

Eric Grange writes:
money, making it much more difficult for the small shop to survive.
Luckily, the one who sues me has to pay all costs, also my lawyers, in
case I win, so it is here, in my country.
--
Ingvar Nilsen
www.ingvarius.com