h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

If you haven't signed it yet, this online petition is very much deserving of support:

http://petition.eurolinux.org/index_html

I'm guessing most of you already know why software patents are evil... er... I would explain for those who don't, but it's far too late for intelligent conversation ... so could somebody else do it for me? Thanks

Here goes...

The patent system was originally designed to spur technological innovation by granting a limited monopoly to an entity in exchange for full disclosure of a new device or method.

In the rapidly changing world of computers, a patent that lasts for even six months could quickly put a stranglehold on innovation while it remained in effect since nobody could improve on the method covered by the patent for that period of time.

Due to the nature of a computers there are only so many ways in which a problem can be approached. Generally an algorithm builds on a series of smaller, simpler algorithms in order to solve a complex problem - a patent on any one of these simple algorithms would effectively prevent anyone from building anything new on top of them which would quickly limit innovation to only those who came up with the original ideas, many of which are simply implementations of mathematical models that have existed for untold years and those who could afford to license the patents from the person or company that owned them.

Those are only two of the most obvious arguments against software patents. I would sign the petition myself as I am opposed to software patents generally but I am not a European citizen and as such I don't believe I'm entitled to a voice in the governmental policy there.

And beyond just that, one of the scariest things about the way software patents are being done in the USA is that they don't seem to be paying much attention to prior art, so there are patents being granted for things everyone knows how to do and has already implemented.

Which is just plain stupid.

Obviously, I've signed it.

Ion, as people all over the worls want to have a say in what B*sh considers to be governing, I don't see why you cannot sign the petition. It specifically offers the possibility to state your place on earth by the continent.

pledging support by signing it ..

Aha! I didn't visit the page as I assumed the petition was only for European Citizens. Thank you for pointing out that they welcome signatures from people outside of Europe.

Signed. We don't want another GIF debacle.

Thanks for all the signatures folks... and for the eloquent explanation, Ion

it was the explination that got me onside

And a very good explanation too.

The latest news I've heard on this is that the EU Parliament may not even debate the issue on the 22nd of September, despite them being supposed to (according to current schedules anyway). They really don't seem to know what to do about it, and that doubt is very pleasing to me because at least it means they don't want to go the American route.

From some comments floating around, I think they've seen how much of a mistake that would be.