Monday, January 23, 2006
heise online - Industry joins in for new fight about software patents
heise online - Industry joins in for new fight about software patents: "Proponents for a broadening of industrial property rights in the computer sector have declared a new round in the fight about software patents in the EU opened. 'It starts again', announced G�nther Schmalz, head of SAP's software department, according to the Intellectial Property Watch online service by mid of last week on the Digital Europe meeting of the neoliberal US-american Progress & Freedom Foundation (PFF) in Prague. At the same time, the patent proponent expressed hope that his camp will be better prepared this time than during the last struggle. A 'brigde position' must be reached, which both sides could live with.
Midyear 2005 the software patent lobby met their Waterloo when the highly controversial EU directive about patents on 'computerimplemented inventions' was buried. This was due to the better lobbying of the opposition, said the SAP manager. They met the members of the EU parliament far more often and hit the parliament's nerve with their demonstrations. Schmalz complained further that industrie's representatives have been threatened personally by software patent opponents in the dispute's zenith in early summer of 2005."
Midyear 2005 the software patent lobby met their Waterloo when the highly controversial EU directive about patents on 'computerimplemented inventions' was buried. This was due to the better lobbying of the opposition, said the SAP manager. They met the members of the EU parliament far more often and hit the parliament's nerve with their demonstrations. Schmalz complained further that industrie's representatives have been threatened personally by software patent opponents in the dispute's zenith in early summer of 2005."
