[ILUG] ILUG sends s/w patents briefing document to Irish MEPs

[David Golden]

On Sunday 20 March 2005 10:35, Paul Jakma wrote:

> I had dropped out of the thread - i dont really have more to say :).

I do hope that happened _after_ you'd read through provided links to 
venture capitalist and deutsche bank research anti-swpat statements,
which are likely far more convincing than mine, because I disagree
with all patents in principle.  One of the things I do wish 
anti-software patent people would be more careful of is the fact that 
with a bit of thought, many of their arguments apply equally well to 
other fields upon which patents have been inflicted.

> So generalise from "undermines copyright, public domain, etc.." to
> "undermines the free use of ideas" - which is exactly what patents
> are all about.
>
> There is simply nothing special about how patents undermine
> "copyright" as they undermine everything. Stop trying to make out as
> if interaction with copyright is somehow special. It's not.
>

It's "special" because copyright* exists to be undermined , but other 
than that, yes, fine, I agree with you: patents are generally 
undermining.  But if a city is being generally undermined, pointing
out to owners of a particular building that their building is being 
undermined is not untrue.

(*note: I ultimately disagree with copyright in its current form too,
but patenting won't kill it for reasons you outlined...)