See below - news that New Zealand's Commerce Committee has recommended
ending software patents. This is an exciting step forward for our
neighbours.
Hopefully similar conclusions will be reached in Australia in the next
year or two. Will let you know if I hear more.
Cheers,
Ben
-------- Forwarded Message --------
From: Ciaran O'Riordan
To: esp-action-alert@campaigns.fsf.org
Subject: [Esp-action-alert] New Zealand govt against software patents!
Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:44:21 +0100
( Join the discussion at:
http://news.swpat.org/2010/03/new-zealand-govt-against-software-patents/ )
Thanks to well-informed action from people in New Zealand, the government
has taken a clear position against software patents. ESP has worked on
documenting this since last May: http://en.swpat.org/wiki/New_Zealand
The government's text, published today, says:
We recommend amending clause 15 to include computer programs among
inventions that may not be patented. We received many submissions
concerning the patentability of computer programs. Under the Patents Act
1953 computer programs can be patented in New Zealand provided they
produce a commercially useful effect. Open source, or free, software
has grown in popularity since the 1980s. Protecting software by
patenting is inconsistent with the open source model, and its proponents
oppose it. A number of submitters argued that there is no “inventive
step” in software development, as “new” software invariably builds on
existing software. They felt that computer software should be excluded
from patent protection as software patents can stifle innovation and
competition, and can be granted for trivial or existing techniques. In
general we accept this position.
Full text:
http://legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2008/0235/latest/whole.html#dlm14...
Help documenting this is always welcome at:
http://en.swpat.org/wiki/New_Zealand
Information about what's happening now about software patents is available
here:
http://en.swpat.org/wiki/Consultations_from_patent_offices,_governments,_and...
http://en.swpat.org/wiki/Current_events
http://en.swpat.org/wiki/Israel
http://en.swpat.org/wiki/Australia
