Software AG released a survey carried out by the Technical University of Darmstadt, stating that, among other practical recommendations, software patents are needed to protect innovation.
Archive for the 'Software Patent' Category
Assoli today announced that under the free software pact initiative 232 Italian candidates signed the “caro candidato” pact. Candidates signing it state that they favor the development and use of free software, and will protect it from threatening EU legislation.
Only 27 MEP candidates subscribed until now, I hope more will pop up before the elections, Europe needs MEPs informed on free software issues.
The European Commission brings back software patents, this time through a via a centralized patent court, the European and Community Patents Court (draft agreement).
This court - if the draft will get approved at the next competitiveness meeting of May 28-29 - will have exclusive jurisdiction in respect of patent infringements.
The Software Patents war is finally over, glad open source cluster technology made it possible.
Brussels & Munich, 1st April 2009 — After years of confidential work, the European Patent Office (EPO) and the Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure (FFII) today announce a radical way to improve software patent quality: Binaries-As-Prior-Art, or BAPA. BAPA combines a database of billions of compiled computer programs (”binaries”) with a powerful Cloud search engine that can find any invention in microseconds.
Continue reading ‘European Software Patents: the War is Over’
The Trans Atlantic Consumer Dialogue - a forum of US and EU consumer organizations - is organizing the “Patents, Copyrights and Knowledge Governance: The Next Four Years” conference in Washington, 12-13 January 2009.
Europe, WIPO and USA are all discussing IP policies, TACD now that the new US Administration is about to take place in Washington wants to bring some interested parties at the table.
Both the United States and the European Union are facing demands to modify policies on patents, copyrights and other forms of intellectual property protection, coming from different perspectives. There are high profile right-owner lobbying efforts directed at higher standards and tougher enforcement of intellectual property rights, and growing interest among consumer groups, academics and many innovative businesses to protect the public domain and retain or even expand user rights. There is also much interest in exploring newer approaches to the support of creative and inventive communities, that do not rely on notions of exclusive rights.
With the organisation of this event, the TransAtlantic Consumer Dialogue calls for two days of discussion on the assessment and on the prospective of the American and European political and policy Agenda on intellectual property practices and policies.
Registration available on TACD’s website (Facebook group also available).
The New Year historically is a time for self improvement, and the commercial open source side of the world should be no exception to that.
Open Source thought leaders have expressed opinions and discussed the state of open source, here are my takes on some challenges and opportunities for the new year.
Continue reading ‘Commercial Open Source 2009: Challenges and Opportunities’
Open Innovation Network, an intellectual property company formed years ago by IBM, Novell, Philipps, Red Hat, Sony, and NEC to promote Linux by using patents to create a collaborative environment is back again.
Keith Bergelt, OIN CEO , few weeks ago was travelling around Europe to meet up with academic, entrepeneurs and influencers, and I got a chance to pose him few questions about OIN’s directions. OIN wants to foster open collaboration and sees patents as an impediment to such collaboration, possibly slowing down the innovation pace.
Keith says that in OIN’s vision there are “good” patents and “bad” patents, and they won’t take part in the European software patents debate. All in all OIN cares just about Linux, and middleware or application levels are not in OIN’s agenda for the time being. Google is proud to participate in OIN’s mission, as Di Bona made clear through the official google blog, and that is probably good for all (big) Linux end-users.
Will ever OIN go up in the open source software stack?
The Stop Software Patent Initiative, earlier mentioned on this blog, is aiming at unifying the voices of European stakeholders willing to stop software patents.
Despite the European parliament five years ago adopted some amendments to limit the scope of software patentability, and later the amended directive was rejected, the topic is hot again. At that time the parliament was listening to some multinationals, many European SMEs, free software associations and a lot of volunteers. Lobbyist like Florian Mueller were also part of the equation, playing an important role, I would say.
Initiatives like the world day Against software patents, or the stop software patent initiative, are definitely a good thing. Not the ultimate answer to the problem though, I am afraid.
Keith Bergelt, Open Innovation Network’s new appointed CEO, was clear telling me that OIN won’t collaborate with FFII or similar organizations to fight against software patents in Europe. OIN cares just about Linux, so far. That is a pity, considering that they are lobbying around Europe now.
Sign the petition if you are against software patents. Italy seems the country with more signatures now, well done!
FR: ICT 2008 - The European Commission’s Directorate General Information Society and Media is organizing the biennial ICT Event, formerly known as the “IST Event“. The event, the most important forum for discussing research and public policy in information and communication technologies at European level, will take place in Lion on 25-27 November.
European Journal of ePractice nº 4 - This issue of the European Journal of ePractice is dedicated to efficiency and effectiveness. Is open source covered?
MEPs petition European Parliament switch to Open Source - A petition to make the European Parliament switch its IT systems to Open Source has so far gotten the support of a hundred MEPs.
Five years ago, on 24 September 2003, the European Parliament adopted some amendments to limit the scope of software patentability, listening to many European SMEs and associations. Today A global coalition of more than 80 software companies, associations and developers has declared the 24th of September to be the “World Day Against Software Patents“.
On 24 September 2008, the World Day Against Software Patents will provide volunteers with the opportunity to express the growing concerns of users, businesses and developers. The granting of software patents by patent offices around the world affects their freedom to innovate. The organisers expect 24h of activities across the globe. Volunteers will gather in front of patent offices to inform the general public of the problems underlying software patenting.
A global petition demanding to effectively stop software patents worldwide will be launched on the same day. In some regions of the world such as Europe, the United States, or India, dedicated campaigns are being prepared by local supporters. The organisers intend to celebrate the World Day on an annual basis unless substantive clarifications are adopted in national laws that stop software patenting along with their effects on the digital economy.
Read FFII press release and go to the Stop Software Patents website for further information.
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