- From: Seth Johnson <seth.johnson@realmeasures.dyndns.org>
- Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2002 16:10:02 -0500
- To: www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org
(Forwarded from Interesting People list, farber@cis.upenn.edu) -------- Original Message -------- Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2002 21:03:55 -0500 From: Dave Farber <dave@farber.net> ------ Forwarded Message From: Ari Ollikainen <Ari@OLTECO.com> Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2002 12:26:25 -0800 To: farber@cis.upenn.edu Subject: EU Unveils 'Tougher' Software Patent Proposal EU Unveils 'Tougher' Software Patent Proposal Wed Feb 20,12:42 PM ET By David Lawsky http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=581&u=/nm/20020220/tc_ nm/tech_eu_software_dc_3 BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission (news - web sites) on Wednesday unveiled a new approach to software patents, which a top Commission official said would draw U.S. criticism as it would mean tougher criteria in Europe to grant a patent. The proposal, which would standardize a variety of software patent rules across the 15-member bloc, requires that software contain new ideas to qualify for patent protection. Also, patents would apply only when software is loaded in a machine or operating system, not when it merely sits on a shelf. Commissioner Frits Bolkestein, whose Internal Markets group oversaw the new proposal, said the proposal differs from the U.S. approach, which permits patents for software independent of machines and does not necessarily require fresh innovation. "We will take American complaints on the chin," he predicted. [ snip ] The Parliament and EU member states must agree on the final wording before it can take effect. An official for the Business Software Association's Brussels office expressed dismay at the proposal. "It departs from what we had hoped to see," said Francisco Mingorance, director of European Public Policy for the U.S.-based association, to which Microsoft Corp is a heavy contributor. He said that the proposal would increase the costs to software firms seeking to protect intellectual property. Microsoft, which makes the operating system software used on nearly all personal computers and dominates the market for PC word processors, had no immediate comment on the proposal. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Dilbert's words of wisdom #18: Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level then beat you with experience. --------------------------------------------------------------------- OLTECO Ari Ollikainen P.O. BOX 20088 Networking Architecture and Technology Stanford, CA Ari@OLTECO.com 94309-0088 415.517.3519 ------ End of Forwarded Message For archives see: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
Received on Thursday, 21 February 2002 16:13:16 UTC