Protest against software patents in Europe!

[fr3drik]

Here's an example of what would happen to a web shop if there will be software patents in Europe. Just imagine the consequences for computer graphics software developers/companies.

http://webshop.ffii.org/webshop_small.jpg (http://webshop.ffii.org/)

1. Webshop: Selling things over a network using a server, client and payment processor, or using a client and a server - EP803105 (http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP0803105&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD) and EP738446 (http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP738446&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD)
2. Order by cell phone: Selling over a mobile phone network - EP1090494 (http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP1090494&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD)
3. Shopping cart: Electronic shopping cart - EP807891 (http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP807891&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD) and EP784279 (http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP784279&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD)
4. [CDs] [Films] [Books]: Tabbed palettes - EP689133 (http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP689133&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD)
5. Picture link: Preview window - EP537100 (http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP537100&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD)
6. View/download film: Video data distribution through the web - EP933892 (http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP933892&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD)
7. View film: Video streaming ("segmented video on-demand") - EP633694 (http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP633694&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD)
8. MP3-format: Audio compression format, covered by numerous patents, e.g. EP287578 (http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP287578&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD)
9. Credit card: Pay using credit card via the Internet - EP820620 (http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP820620&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD) and EP779587 (http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP779587&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD)
10. Gift: Order a gift for someone via the Internet by providing his/her email address - EP927945 (http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP927945&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD) (note: the claims on the target page are less broad than the eventually granted claims in the B1 form (http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/bnsviewer?CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD&PN=EP0927945&ID=EP+++0927945B1+I+) of the patent)
11. Request loan: Automated loan application - EP715740 (http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP715740&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD)
12. VISA: Digital signature in graphic to show that the shop is approved for receiving VISA payments - EP798657 (http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP798657&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD)
13. Send offers: Send offers in response to request - EP986016 (http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP986016&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD)
14. Send to vendor: Reroute incoming orders to a vendor - EP217308 (http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP217308&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD)
15. Support database: Network support system using databases - EP673135 (http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP673135&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD)
16. Preview chapters: Use of TV as metaphor for selecting different video fragments - EP670652 (http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP670652&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD)
17. Ladybug image: JPEG format - EP266049 (http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP266049&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD)
18. Related results: Show related results if customer likes the current ones - EP628919 (http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP628919&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD)
19. Rebate code: Allow rebate codes to be entered by customers - EP370847 (http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP370847&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD)
20. Burn at shop: Material reproduction of information stored at remote location - EP195098 (http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP195098&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD)

[iwishforroot]

you guys got to fight against software patents in the EU.

my vote is with you but it doesnt count as much since i live in the states but gl.

[Schnupps]

I read about that already some months ago in a german computer magazine (c´t).

There are numerous patents on ui related things which are in every software. If a software developer would want to use these patents in their software, they would have to pay to the patent holder.

Tese are common things like windows with little riders on top, right click and drag (maya´s star right click for instance) and very commom things like UNDO/REDO!

Big companies wouldn´t have much problems paying the price for those patents, little companies could die, and little freeware programmers wouldn´t have a chance. In combination with paying for tcpa regestiration it would be be impossible to start a new company.

Guess whose holding (because they bought mostly, not invented) most of those patents?
Our all time favorite software company M........

This is so insane I don´t think they could start laws like this, but frightening it is :-0

Schnupps

[richcz3]

I see where they are going with this although I am not saying I like it. Just like intel, Rambus, SUN, IBM, HP, AMD or any other companies have component and technology patents.
If any company puts money into R&D, they would like to get a return on their investment in licensing it.

Software Patents already exist here in the states, not just Europe, and there are plenty of cases to support it. The difference may developer to developer as opposed to end user. Still licensing fees add to the final cost of a program.

EOLAS sued Microsoft and won for plugin Patents infringed on by Internet Explorer. And that did happen here in the States in 2003. The case is being appealed by MS.

Adobe sued Macromedia for infringing on it's floating toolbar patent. Adobe won resulting in the Macromedia MX suite look.

Compuserve has a patent on Gif. format. That caused such a stir in the mid 90's because the gif format had become so ubiquitous.


richcz3

[Iain McFadzen]

I believe Sega succesfully sued a couple of other Japanese games publishers a few years ago over a patent they'd taken out on 'user selectable 3D cameras' when they first released Virtual Racer.

[gmask]

Patent this!

http://www.theonion.com/onion3311/microsoftpatents.html

Frankly I don't see how many of these can be held as patents. For example just because somebody put a text entry box with a lable on it that says rebate doesn't in my mind count as an invention (19). If that's the case then whoever invented the text entry box is getting the shaft and should have a patent on text entry boxes.. y'know boxes that allow text entry.

12 Or how can someone have a patent on the VISA logo besides Visa?

I'll be applying for a patent on XDUGEF which will pretty much cover anything that represents geometry on a computer and become very rich.

[Breinmeester]

Originally posted by gmask
Patent this!

http://www.theonion.com/onion3311/microsoftpatents.html



Haha! Very funny!!:D

[malducin]

Just imagine the consequences for computer graphics software developers/companies.

It kinda already happened, in particular the Pixar vs Exluna debacle (in particular the stochastic sampling patent) and one may brew over the Deep Shadows patent.

[gmask]

Originally posted by malducin
It kinda already happened, in particular the Pixar vs Exluna debacle (in particular the stochastic sampling patent) and one may brew over the Deep Shadows patent.

Yes but one could argue that their is inventiveness in such a case however some of the examples cited such as rebate text entry boxes and displaying credit card logos are laughable and frivolous.

[CGmonkey]

Ah well let them have their fun.. I (and many, many, many others) will move to a different part of the world the second after they club the decision. So who cares really :)

Let them face the consequences!

[elam]

Am I the only one who finds the thought of "owning" an idea or process absurd? Only a fat, corrupt bureaucrat would think it a good idea. I thought this sort of thing couldn't happen in socialist Europe.

[gmask]

Originally posted by elam
Am I the only one who finds the thought of "owning" an idea or process absurd? Only a fat, corrupt bureaucrat would think it a good idea. I thought this sort of thing couldn't happen in socialist Europe.

Patents and copyrights are a good idea but clearly the system has been abused by large corporations.. the proposed changes would make it even easier for large corporations to abuse the system and conceivably bring the internet and the software industry to it's knees with an onslaught of petty lawsuits that only Microsoft and other megamaniacal corporate monsters can afford to fight. You can be sure that corrupt politicians are behind this as much as some really evil business minds.

[parallax]

The patent and copyright system is in dire need of an overhaul.

Or else i'm going to apply for a patent on stupidity.

[Cyberdigitus]

It's already affecting us; didn't Discreet take out the tabbed menubar because Adobe has a patent on it?

it' s really odd indeed that such things can be patented, it's like patenting basic math operators.

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