A Qui, 2003-08-14 às 01:31, Niall Douglas escreveu:
It says they must for "inventions for all fields of technology" if I remember. Ok, you can argue that software isn't an invention, but you're on thin ground because software can be an industrial tool. And since any software program could be implemented purely in electronics, you're scuppered because if an electronic machine can be patented (it can), and you can implement some of it in software, ipso facto software must be patentable. Wasn't there some German court ruling on this?
I recommend Phillipe Aigrain's text on this:
http://cip.umd.edu/Aigrain.htm
He was the responsible for software in the IST program. As for the german court ruling, there are other rulings that contradict it.
Anyway, it's a null point. All the MEPs think it needs patenting. And they would sound incredulous if you tell them TRIPS doesn't mandate it.
Nice, wrong generalization. Some of the MEPs I've discussed this issue are AGAINST software patents.
If you're talking to MEPs, please coordinate with europarl@ffii.org. There are MEPs that are going to table ammendments that haven't been presented yet, and it could be helpful to put the MEPs you're contacting with others from the same political group.
First time I've heard of that list. When did it arise?
According to my records, July 5. Each of the europarl-<country code>@ffii.org addresses include the people who have been fighting this at the europarl level. I'm in the europarl-pt list.
Contact with them. The situation is not as bleak as you think and any help is greatly appreciated.