European patent protesters: 'Innovation--yes!'

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You got it wrong.

No one is forcing you to GIVE away your code.

They don't want software patents in its current form. How did that result to "must give away inivated code to your competition"?

You can always copyright your written text, as that is what software really is. Patents don't cover music, books, and poems; last I saw they aren't being forced to give those away.

With copyrights, you CAN stop your competitor from taking it away. In fact, a copyright gives you a monopoly on that code for a LOT longer than a patent.

What these people are saying is "we woke up late to the whole software thing and we now want an unfair advantage. We want for free what the rest of the world spent time and money creating..."

They are a separate nation(s), and they got every right to do as they fit. Why should they have to play exactly by our rules that favor us and put them at a disadvantage? Of course if we don't like their rules, we can always take our ball and go home. No one is forcing anything from anyone for free.

...my software, when IBM can come along, take it and say "stay with us and you can have this great idea they're charging for, for free"?

And what can happen today? IBM (or some big corp.) really really likes your idea, and comes over to take it. Sure you got your patent, but IBM has got so many you HAVE to be infringing on some, heck you ARE cause your are using a PC!!! So the deal is you either turn over your patent for a ridiculously small fee, or they sue you out of business (in which case they get it anyway). I think this is exactly what Europe doesn't want.

Posted by: doe_z   Posted on: 02/20/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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