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

[Joseph Kiniry]

Hi Colm,

--On 21 March, 2005 9:03:11 +0000 Colm Buckley <colm at tuatha.org> wrote:

> On 20 Mar 2005, at 12:30, Joseph Kiniry wrote:
>
>> How does this contradict my point?  Even the technologies covered by
>> "basic technique" patents are easily implemented in other, innovative
>> ways.
>
> 1) Not always.

Perhaps.  As I mentioned, I have yet to see evidence of the contrary in my 
experience.

> 2) The other way might not be as good.

I agree with this.

> By patenting a basic technique, the patent holder is effectively forcing
> all other developers to deliberately write inferior software.  Goes
> against the grain somewhat, no?

As already mentioned by Paul Jakma, not if you believe in the basic premise 
of patents in the first place, regardless of how they are current effected.

Joe
-- 
Joseph R. Kiniry
Dept. of Computer Science, University College Dublin
http://secure.ucd.ie/