As a follow up on software patents, here's BSA's recent take on it:
Society Reaps Enormous Benefits from Software
Patents, BSA Argues in Amicus Filing
WASHINGTON, DC — December 7, 2012 —
Patent protection for software provides an essential incentive for
innovation, and courts should be careful not to undermine it with
a misapplication of the legal bar on the patentability of abstract
ideas, BSA | The Software Alliance argued today in an amicus
curiae brief filed with the US Court of Appeals for the Federal
Circuit in the case of CLS Bank Int’l v. Alice Corp.
“Software is sewn into the fabric of everyday life — from the
thermostats in our homes and offices, to the medical devices that
diagnose diseases, to the machines automating today’s factory
floors,” said BSA President and CEO Robert Holleyman. “All of
these things depend on truly inventive software. Patents are
critical drivers of this kind of technology innovation, which in
turn spurs economic growth and job creation.”
Link:
http://www.bsa.org/country/News%20and%20Events/News%20Archives/en/2012/en-12072012-SoftwarePatents.aspx?sc_lang=en
BSA was very active also 10 years ago:
CEC & BSA 2002-02-20: proposal to make all useful
ideas patentable
The European Commission (CEC) proposes to legalise the granting of
patents on computer programs as such in Europe and ensure that
there is no longer any legal foundation for refusing
american-style software and business method patents in Europe.
"But wait a minute, the CEC doesn't say that in its press
release!" you may think. Quite right! To find out what they are
really saying, you need to read the proposal itself. But be
careful, it is written in an esoteric Newspeak from the European
Patent Office (EPO), in which normal words often mean quite the
opposite of what you would expect.
Link: http://eupat.ffii.org/papri/eubsa-swpat0202/
Best regards.
//Erik
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