No to software patents

Tristan Nitot of Mozilla Europe says NO to software patents:

Software patenting, already in use in the USA, allows established companies to control the innovation of others.

Microsoft has, for example, applied for a patent on "mouse clicking." This is absurd and will be invalidated by the courts.

But in the meantime, who can oppose such an adversary? Microsoft has spent $5.4 billion in legal costs during the past three years.

The European Union is expected to vote at the end of September on a bill aimed at instituting software patents. We are all concerned and this law must be opposed.

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Yours truly has been a long standing opponent of software patents. Even Bill Gates thinks software patents are bad for innovation!

Fight software patents in Europe! This could actually be a strong benefit for us as it would open a space of innovation for software vs. the U.S.