Re: [LUG] Open Source and EU patent law

[Rick Timmis <rick@xxxxxxxx>]

I could be over reacting here, but I think that if this Patent issue 
gets through EU Parliment then potentially the OS movement and Linux 
could be screwed !

Scenario:

With such patents in place small developers and developer communities 
could be pipped at the post with patent applications. The very nature of 
OS relies on Open Collaboration this immediatley releases conceptual 
ideas out to the community and also Others (AKA Major Software Coorps). 
There are legal fee's associated with patent applications. How would a 
voluntary community fund this ?

Once the Patent is in place Major Corp can then give OS Developer 
community a right good kicking. As OS Dev's are recognised as 
individuals rather than a company body, then which individual would 
actually attempt to make a release of their software ? As this would 
expose them to instant prosecution.

Additonally this could allow Major Corps to financially destroy OS 
Companies such as SuSe and RH and god forbid Debian. Such Major Corps 
could sap the funds from these smaller companies via complex legal 
challange. Even if this didn't break them it would certainly remove any 
hope of funding further R&D and who would want to leap on board and get 
involved with them if they thought they may personally get sued.

I think we need to get organised and do something about this ? I propose 
a meeting ASAP to discuss this situation.

Thoughts Please

Rick

Paul Weaver wrote:

> > > most software doesn't have the same sort of consequences when it fails.
> > >      
> > Hmm... tell that to a space shuttle commander ?
> >    
>
> I'd be more worried about air traffic control, or software controlling 
> ambulance routing.
>
> None of these things are off-the-shelf shrinkwrapped programs though, they are 
> the product of pure, horrible, headache inducing, pain staking software 
> engineering. Failure in these systems can not be tollerated, so they cost much 
> more. They are completly different problems, sort of like building an aircraft 
> carrier vs. mass producing a row boat.
>
>
>
> --
> The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG
> Mail majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe list" in the
> message body to unsubscribe.
>
>  


--
The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG
Mail majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe list" in the
message body to unsubscribe.