Intellectual property Toolkit

Story: Opera and MySQL battle against software patents

Posted by: Anonymous (Tuesday 28 June 2005, 8:04 PM)

Software is not manufactured, it is something you write and publish. Keep Europe free from software patents, we do not want censorship by patent law on written works.

I think that European member States should ensure, that patents do not limit or except the rights of authors in accordance to TRIPs article 13, that patents do not conflict with normal exploitation of data and information and do not prejudice legitimate interests of authors, that publication, handling and distribution of information, including loading and execution of computer programs and all effects thereof (a legit.interest of the author = the reason for writing), can never constitute a direct or indirect patent infringement.

Patents and copyright are completley uncompatible, patents covering writings like computer programs have an expropriating effect on the future where authors cannot know that they fully own their legitimate rights to their own writings.