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Software Patents
Nice article on software patents, Brash.
I am not so much against software patents per se - I have not enough knowledge in this area to have formed an opinion - however, I am very much against the patents that are being granted.
What is being granted are things like how to use certain technologies.
It corresponds to a building contractor getting a patent on using steel-reinforced walls. Or that a company sends PR material after being asked to do so over the phone. This is just plain silly.
Stupid politicians without key knowledge is once again turning something unknown that could be both positive and negative into stupidity...
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Thanks Mith :-) .
I'm not against patents either, but I am against where they are headed. Thing is most countries have had a patent system in place for years, but up until now the US (and I think Japan) have been the only ones to allow unlimited patents on software.
The ONLY possible outcome if Europe follows the model the US has is that we will get lower quality software, at higher prices, with less vendors to choose from. The battleground will shift from being who has the intellectual property to who has the best patent portfolio. It is an unfortunate and unavoidable side effect that the big boys of the business don't want to play nice with the other kids, and software patents in the way they are now gives them the perfect weapon to take their competition out of the picture before they become a problem.
In a nutshell, it isn't patents that are bad, it is the way that big business will inevitably use them to further their own needs that will do very real, deep and widespread damage.
The problem is becoming world wide.
So called "Free Trade Agreements" are far from free.
The U.S is using its muscle when getting FTAs signed to try to force smaller countries to implement Uncle Sams way of doing things.
Very true. This is in the process of happening right now in Australia where I live which makes me very sad. Our prime minister (who nobody I know likes, and most hate with passion) is basically a lap dog for Bush and there has been a noticable swing in in Australia from being more on the socialist side of things to being capiatalist. I haven't read the entire FTA, but what I have scares me. Australia is starting to become a place where I wouldn't want my kids to be growing up.
Brashquido wrote:
Australia is starting to become a place where I wouldn't want my kids to be growing up.
Do what I did then Brash, (I'm an Aussie from Sydney), move to wonderful Thailand.
The politics is worse than Oz, but there are many more things that compensate.
I think Australia is worth fighting for, so I won't be moving yet :-) . With Howard out of the way we would have a chance to restore the balance, but then you look at the alternatives at the federal level and you start to understand why Howard has been able to remain prime minister for over a decade.
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Joined: Sep 2003