I forward to this list , for members perusal, a copy of an email I have just sent to all my local East Midlands UK MEP's (Member of the European Parliament) concering the patenting of software code. I will let you know what if any reply I get.
John
Well done John - so you've done UK East Midlands, I've done UK South East - anyone here from other UK regions, or other EU countries?
Margot
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Subject:
Patenting of Software Code
From:
John Richard Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date:
Fri, 03 Oct 2003 16:09:18 +0000
To:
[EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Many people on the Internet are expressing concerns about the way that the European Commission is introducing new laws to assist in the Patenting of Software Code.
It is being suggested by many very concerned people that allowing the patenting of Software code is like allowing an author to patent their own book, when of course an author owns the copy right to that book, but cannot patent something that is not a novel invention. If someone invents a novel device it can be patented, if someone creates a work of liturature they may own that piece of liturature, but one may not patent it. Software code is said to be a similar situation. So that allowing software code to be patented is akin to allowing the patenting of a language which would be absurd, would you not agree.
What is the current situation? Is this concern being addressed ?
John
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