Europe Shareware software patents newsletter #14
14th March 2004
Webpage: http://www.europe-shareware.org/pages/brevets/brevets.fr.html
PDF : http://www.europe-shareware.org/pages/brevets/newsletter14.us.pdf
Archive: http://www.europe-shareware.org/pages/brevets/newsletter14.us.html
Polish translation by FFII Poland (Tomasz Marciniak) :
http://www.ffii.org.pl/newsletter/
CONTENTS:
1. EU Council "compromise" on software patents directive
2. European developers against software patents
3. UKPO chief interviewed on the new patent bill
4. Intellectual Property and Microsoft antitrust case
5. Latests news on the Eolas case
6. New problems for browsers publishers
7. Microsoft files for a patent on virtual desktops
8. XML scripting patented by Microsoft
9. Search bot patent
10. Patent on DVD copy software
11. 'Autoplay' patented
12. Compact software updates patented
13. Australia : patent on e-health scheme
14. Amazon sued over shopping cart patents
15. TiVo wins its case on the 'pause' patent
16. SightSound settles with CDNow
17. Acacia new licensee : Disney
18. Microsoft patent policy
19. Windows license harms IP of PC manufacturers
20. USA : increase in patent fees
21. India : software patents = more patent litigations
22. Will South Africa follow the EU ?
23. Australia ready for software patents crisis
24. Australia and business methods patents
25. The fallacy about patents
26. The patent system is too costly
27. Arundel : software patents slow down innovation
----
1. EU Council "compromise" on software patents directive
"Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the
patentability of computer-implemented inventions
- Presidency compromise proposal"
http://register.consilium.eu.int/pdf/en/04/st05/st05570.en04.pdf
(French document : http://register.consilium.eu.int/pdf/fr/04/st05/
st05570.fr04.pdf)
The EU Council published its position on the software patents directive.
It appears that the EU Council follows the European Patent Office
position and don't want to put clear limits to patentability on
algorithms and business methods as asked by economists and european
software companies.
The main European Parliament amendments are rejected, making it clear
that the democratic debate is not taken into account for this directive.
"EU-Rat macht sich für grenzenlose Softwarepatente stark"
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/44917
"EU Council "Compromise" for Unlimited Patentability "
http://swpat.ffii.org/news/04/cons0129/
A few quotes :
« In contrast to the European Parliament's version,
the Council version allows unlimited patentability
and patent enforcability. Under the Council version,
"computer-implemented" algorithms and business
methods, as have been granted in large numbers by
the European Patent Office against the letter and
spirit of the written law, are by default patentable
inventions. »
« Publication of a description of a patented idea on
a web server in formal language constitutes a
patent infringment, and use of patented protocols
and file formats for the purpose of interoperation
is not allowed. »
« Freedom of publication is removed from Art 5,
instead information goods become directly claimable,
so that internet service providers can be sued for
allowing publication of independently developped
programs on their server. »
« Art 6a (freedom of interoperation) is removed. This
way Microsoft receives green light for its new
licensing program on file formats, and large software
and telecommunication companies can charge fees for
the use of the next generation of Internet
standards. »
----
2. European developers against software patents
"FOSDEM: Entwicklergemeinde gegen Patente"
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/44892
During the fourth FOSDEM (Free and Open Source Developers' European
Meeting) in Brussels, the question of patents on file formats was raised
and discussed.
A few quotes :
« "Programmiert wiederverwertbare Komponenten,
haltet die Daten offen, beugt euch keinem
patentierten proprietären Datenformat und sorgt
vor allem für Überraschungen und clevere Ideen",
gab O'Reilly den Entwicklern mit auf den Weg. »
« Die KDE-Entwickler überließen ihren Raum einer
Debatte über Software-Patente, die kontrovers
geführt wurde. »
« "Was mit den Patenten passiert, ist eine politische
Frage, eine Machtfrage, eine Frage der Lobbyarbeit
der großen Konzerne hier in Brüssel. Sie spielen
gekonnt mit dem Angst-Szenario, dass Europa hinter
Amerika und Japan zurückfällt, wenn es seine
Software nicht patentiert", erklärte ein
Teilnehmer. »
----
3. UKPO chief interviewed on the new patent bill
"Hopes Rise of EU Patent Breakthrough"
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-ft-patents1mar01,1,363357.story?
coll=la-headlines-business
Ron Marchant, UKPO chief, gives its point of view on the software patents
directive and on the UK patent bill.
A few quotes :
« "I wouldn't be surprised if it came back as a
new directive under the next Parliament," Marchant
said. "There isn't much enthusiasm in Europe for
extending software patenting to software per se or
to business methods." »
« In Britain, the Patent Office chief acknowledges
repeated criticisms that smaller companies often
are deterred from enforcing, or even seeking,
intellectual property protection because of
prohibitively expensive litigation costs. »
« [about the UK patent bill] "They are not going
to stop someone who says,
'We've got deeper pockets; we can take the other
side as far as we need to break them,' "
[says Noel Akers, partner at Howrey Simon Arnold
& White in London].
"It really doesn't take much to drive one of
these smaller companies out of the arena
altogether." »
----
4. Intellectual Property and Microsoft antitrust case
"Microsoft to choose EU antitrust remedies-source"
http://www.forbes.com/newswire/2004/02/24/rtr1273035.html
A few quotes :
« The European Commission is set to allow Microsoft
to choose how to solve EU competition concerns to
avoid breaching the software giant's intellectual
property (IP) rights [...] »
« But the EU executive fears the Court of First
Instance, which rules on EU cases, may suspend any
remedy against Microsoft if it suspects there is
a breach of intellectual property rights.
"In order not to touch on IP rights the Commission
would delegate the remedies to Microsoft," the
source told Reuters. »
« According to a report in the Financial Times the
EU's Internal Market Commissioner Frits Bolkestein
intervened in the debate to raise the IP rights
issue and make sure a final decision on Microsoft
was not too harsh. »
"Bolkestein acts over Microsoft 'remedies'"
http://search.ft.com/search/article.html?
id=040224001007&query=bolkestein&vsc_appId=totalSearch&state=Form#
A few quotes :
« Mr Bolkestein's officials had been worried that
the Commission's proposed "remedies" in the case
might infringe Microsoft's intellectual property
rights by forcing it to share too much of its
programming code with rivals. »
"EU-Handelskommissar Lamy steigt für Microsoft in den Ring"
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/45014
The Trade Commissioner, Pascal Lamy, also supports the view that
Microsoft's IP should not be harmed by the EU antitrust case. He says
that it would be otherwise uncompatible with the TRIPS Agreement (part of
the WTO).
A few quotes :
« Wie die Wirtschaftszeitung unter Berufung auf
Kommissionskreise berichtet, warnte Lamy seinen
italienischen Kollegen vor Maßnahmen, die eine
WTO-Vereinbarung zum internationalen Schutz des
geistigen Eigentums (Trips-Vereinbarung) verletzen
könnten. »
----
5. Latests news on the Eolas case
[see the following newsletters for the full story of the Eolas case :
http://www.europe-shareware.org/pages/brevets/newsletter7.us.html
http://www.europe-shareware.org/pages/brevets/newsletter9.us.html
http://www.europe-shareware.org/pages/brevets/newsletter10.us.html
http://www.europe-shareware.org/pages/brevets/newsletter11.us.html
http://www.europe-shareware.org/pages/brevets/newsletter12.us.html
http://www.europe-shareware.org/pages/brevets/newsletter13.us.html]
"Feds reject Eolas browser patent"
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-5171073.html
The USPTO, after protests from the World Wide Web Consortium and software
companies, invalidated the 'plugin' patent of Eolas, a patent it granted
six years ago.
A few quotes :
« The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has
invalidated a claim to Web browser technology
central to a case against Microsoft, a move that
could spare the software giant from paying more
than half a billion dollars in damages [...] »
« Martin Lueck, the lawyer who represented Eolas,
said it was not uncommon for the patent office to
invalidate a claim as the first step of a review
process, but said he was confident that the patent
office would ultimately uphold Eolas' claim on
the Web technology. »
"Patent central to Microsoft case invalidated"
http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/040305/tech_microsoft_patent_1.html
"US-Patentbehörde hebt Eolas-Patent vorläufig auf"
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/45297
"Examiners Say Chicago Inventor's Patent Never Should Have Been Issued"
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/national/8121511.htm?
template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
----
6. New problems for browsers publishers
"Missiontrek's Patent Rights Cannot be Ignored"
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/2/prweb104029.php
A few quotes :
« Attention Opera and Microsoft: online collaboration
innovator, Missiontrek Ltd. Co. has amassed patent
rights in key browser technologies throughout the
World, and thus, is a force to be reckoned with.
From Snippets to Keyword scrolling, they've
reserved valuable rights, says Missiontrek's
founder, a US Patent Attorney. »
« Missiontrek Ltd. Co., a pioneer in Online
Collaboration technology and patent rights holder
for such technologies as project-based keyword
highlighting and scrolling, web snippets saved to
categories, project-based browsing (automatically
saving URL research summaries in a project file),
a method of creating URL tours, and intranet
communications using customizable banners,
recently announced that it has spun off and
licensed its innovative ResearchAgent
technology. »
« Concerning Norway's Opera Software and their
recent addition of Snippets to their popular browser,
Mr. Moetteli [director at Missiontrek] said "We will
definitely assert our rights against any infringer
when such rights mature." "To the extent that our
patent rights permit us to do so, Opera will either
be forced to license our technology, or they will
simply not be permitted to sell infringing products
in key markets such as the UK, the US, Canada and
Australia, among others." »
----
7. Microsoft files for a patent on virtual desktops
Patent application : 20030189597
"Virtual desktop manager"
http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?
Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-
bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01
&s1=%22%2320030189597%22&OS=%22#20030189597"&RS="#20030189597"
The virtual desktop manager described by this patent is exactly what one
european shareware (TWSM/2 by Thomas Künneth) does since the 90s.
http://europeshareware.free.fr/scripts/visu2.php?
logiciel=60&url=0&Langue=n_a&type_lo=&editeur=3&begin=2
Abstract :
« A method for a user to preview multiple virtual
desktops in a graphical user interface is
described. The method comprises receiving an
indication from a user to preview the multiple
virtual desktops and displaying multiple panes
on the display. Each pane contains a scaled
virtual desktop having dimensions that are
proportionally less than the dimensions of a
corresponding full-size virtual desktop. Each
scaled virtual desktop displays with one or more
scaled application windows as shadows if the
corresponding full-size virtual desktop has one
or more corresponding application windows that
are active. »
----
8. XML scripting patented by Microsoft
Patent : US 6,687,897
"XML based script automation"
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=/
netahtml/search-adv.htm&r=9&p=1&f=G&l=50&d=ptxt&S1=Microsoft.ASNM.&OS=AN/
Microsoft&RS=AN/Microsoft
Abstract :
« Systems, methods and data structures for
encompassing scripts written in one or more
scripting languages in a single file. The
scripts of a computer system are organized
into a single file using Extensible Language
Markup (XML).
Each script is delimited by a file element and
the script's instructions are delimited by a code
element within each file element.
Other information, such as a name of the script
and a functional description of the script may
also be included in the file using other XML
elements to delimit that information. The language
in which a particular script is written is also
included within the XML format. When a particular
script is executed, the file is parsed to create a
list of the script names or of the functional
descriptions of the scripts. One or more scripts
are selected and the code for those scripts is
extracted from the file and executed by the
appropriate scripting process. The scripting
process that executes a particular script is
identified from the scripting extension attribute
that is included in the XML format of the file. »
----
9. Search bot patent
Patent : US 6,029,175
"Automatic retrieval of changed files by a network software agent"
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?
Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/
srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6,029,175.WKU.&OS=PN/6,029,175&RS=PN/6,029,175
"Teknowledge streitet mit Microsoft um Patent"
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/44405
A californian company, Teknowledge, owns a patent on web research done
with software agents. It claims that Microsoft, Akamai Technologies,
Inktomi and Cable & Wireless are infringing its patent.
Microsoft counter-attacks with another lawsuit on 2 patents.
A few quotes :
« Diese von Teknowledge patentierte Technik bietet
Funktionen zur agentenbasierten Benachrichtigung
bei aktualisierten Webseiten und Software. »
"Web giants fight patent infringement claims"
http://www.computerweekly.com/articles/article.asp?
liArticleID=128165&liFlavourID=1&sp=1
A few quotes :
« Teknowledge charges that online alert services
offered by Microsoft, Yahoo and AOL, as well as
caching services offered by Akamai, C&W and Inktomi,
infringe on a US patent 6,029,175 awarded to it in
February 2002 and covers "automatic retrieval of
changed files by a network software agent". »
« Microsoft filed a counterclaim earlier this week
accusing Teknowledge of violating two of its own
patents, one related to electronic bill payment
and the other to information aggregation. »
----
10. Patent on DVD copy software
"Neue Klage gegen Softwarefirma 321 Studios wegen DVD-Patenten"
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/44662
The DVD Copy Control Association sues 321 Studios Inc. over infringement
of one of its patents. This lawsuit aims to forbid DVD copy software.
A few quotes :
« Damit hat der Verband seine Strategie geändert
und verklagt nun ein Unternehmen, statt einzelne
Personen, wie den Programmierer Andrew Brunner.
Die DVD CCA hatte gegen ihn eine Klage
angestrengt, weil er Code veröffentlicht haben
soll, mit dem der Kopierschutz CSS geknackt werden
könne. »
« Die erneute Klage richtet sich gegen die Produkte
DVD Copy Plus und DVD X Copy. Mit ihnen lassen
sich Kopien von kopiergeschützten DVDs anfertigen. »
"DVD firm sued by trade group"
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/7954256.htm?
template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
"Victoire des studios de cinéma contre un éditeur de logiciel"
http://fr.news.yahoo.com/040221/85/3nohb.html
----
11. 'Autoplay' patented
Patents : US 5,597,307
US 5,795,156
US 6,249,863
US 6,418,532
"Method for starting up a process automatically on insertion of a storage
media into a host device"
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?
Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/
srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=5,597,307.WKU.&OS=PN/5,597,307&RS=PN/5,597,307
"Host device equipped with means for starting a process in response to
detecting insertion of a storage media"
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?
Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/
srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=5,795,156.WKU.&OS=PN/5,795,156&RS=PN/5,795,156
"Host device equipped with means for starting a process in response to
detecting insertion of a storage media"
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?
Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/
srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6,249,863.WKU.&OS=PN/6,249,863&RS=PN/6,249,863
"Host device equipped with means for starting a process in response to
detecting insertion of a storage media"
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?
Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/
srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6,418,532.WKU.&OS=PN/6,418,532&RS=PN/6,418,532
"Microsoft may face trial over 'autoplay' feature
TVI charges Microsoft infringes on four of its U.S. patents"
http://www.infoworld.com/article/04/02/10/HNmsautoplay_1.html
A few quotes :
« Microsoft Corp. faces a trial in a patent
infringement suit over the "autoplay" feature in
Windows that automatically starts an application
after storage media is loaded into a PC. »
« Little-known TV Interactive Data Corp. (TVI) of
Los Gatos, California, sued Microsoft in May
2002, seeking damages and an injunction barring
Microsoft from further infringement. »
« Additionally, TVI charges that Microsoft patent
6,366,966, entitled "method and system for
automatically running a program" interferes
with the TVI patents as it covers a TVI invention,
according to case records filed with the U.S.
District Court for the Northern District of
California. »
"Microsoft wegen Autoplay der Patentverletzung beschuldigt"
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/44494
----
12. Compact software updates patented
Patent : US 6,546,552
"Difference extraction between two versions of data-tables containing
intra-references"
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?
Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/
srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6546552.WKU.&OS=PN/6546552&RS=PN/6546552
"Red Bend Software gets patent for compact software updates"
http://www.masshightech.com/displayarticledetail.asp?Art_ID=64802
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent to Boston-based
Red Bend Software for a method of generating a compact difference result
between an old program and a new program.
----
13. Australia : patent on e-health scheme
"Patent threatens e-health scheme"
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/printpage/0,5942,8565263,00.html
A few quotes :
« THE future of MediConnect is in doubt as advisers
warn that the Pharmacy Guild of Australia may own
key aspects of the Federal Government's electronic
system giving pharmacists direct access to
people's medication records and entitlements. »
« In March 2002, the guild lodged an international
patent application for a "Method and system for
sharing personal health data" »
« "(But) if the patent is legally justifiable ...
there is the possibility that the patent holders
will have a claim over future versions of
MediConnect and other health systems." [says Coolong
Consulting's report] »
----
14. Amazon sued over shopping cart patents
Patent : US 5,708,780
US 5,715,314
US 5,909,492
"Internet server access control and monitoring systems"
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?
Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/
srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=5,708,780.WKU.&OS=PN/5,708,780&RS=PN/5,708,780
"Network sales system"
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?
Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/
srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=5,715,314.WKU.&OS=PN/5,715,314&RS=PN/5,715,314
"Network sales system"
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?
Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/
srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=5,909,492.WKU.&OS=PN/5,909,492&RS=PN/5,909,492
"Amazon's 10-K SEC filing"
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1018724/000119312504029488/
0001193125-04-029488-index.htm
"Amazon poursuivi par de vieux brevets embarrassants"
http://fr.news.yahoo.com/040301/7/3o6th.html
Soverain Software, owner of the Open Market patents on "shopping cart",
is suing Amazon.
A few quotes :
« Le cybermarchand américain est attaqué pour
violation de brevets relatifs aux systèmes de
vente en ligne, dits «brevets sur les paniers
d'achat». Déposés en 1998 par Open Market, ils
sont détenus aujourd'hui par un éditeur qui lui
réclame des royalties. »
« Amazon a annoncé être poursuivi par Soverain sur
le brevet numéro US 5.708.780 (enregistré au PTO)
concernant les systèmes de surveillance et de
contrôle d'accès aux serveurs internet. Ce brevet
est également connu sous l'appellation «brevet
d'identification de session». Il permet non
seulement aux détaillants électroniques d'analyser
la manière dont les utilisateurs surfent sur un
site, mais également de limiter l'accès à un
contenu spécifique, notamment des abonnements
ou des informations sur des comptes. Ce brevet
ne s'applique pas aux cookies, mais il pourrait
concerner d'autres méthodes de traçabilité des
consommateurs, dont les certificats numériques. »
« Le cybermarchand américain doit également
affronter une action en justice portant sur les
brevets 5.909.492 et 5.715.314, relatifs aux
systèmes de ventes en réseau. Ils visent les
processus permettant aux acheteurs d'accumuler
des articles avant de régler leur facture sur
une boutique en ligne; la façon dont les données
d'achat et de règlement sont transmises via une
URL; et l'utilisation de bons numériques de
promotion pour effectuer des achats sur le web,
transmises via messagerie électronique, cédérom
ou encore par téléachat. »
----
15. TiVo wins its case on the 'pause' patent
Patent : US RE36,801
"Time delayed digital video system using concurrent recording and playback"
http://164.195.100.11/netacgi/nph-Parser?
Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/
srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%27RE36801%27.WKU.&OS=PN/RE36801&RS=PN/RE36801
"TiVo gewinnt Patentstreit gegen Pause Technology"
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/44521
TiVo won its case where Pause Technology accused it of infringing its
"pause" patent (about the ability to pause a TV program and resume it).
----
16. SightSound settles with CDNow
[see our newsletter #11 for more info on this lawsuit :
http://www.europe-shareware.org/pages/brevets/newsletter11.us.html
]
"SightSound einigt sich im Patentstreit mit CDNow"
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/44985
CD Now and N2K agree to pay SightSound USD 3.3 millions to settle their
lawsuit on SightSound's patent on
A few quotes :
« Ein Anwalt von SightSound sieht nun den Weg frei,
um weitere Lizenzierungsansprüche durchzusetzen.
Dabei werde er sich an Firmen der Musik- und auch
der Filmindustrie wenden, die Technik des
Unternehmens einsetze, um Musik und Filme zum
Download anzubieten. Scott Sander, CEO von
SightSound, meint, die Unterhaltungsindustrie sei
in eine "neue Ära des Respekts vor geistigem
Eigentum wie Urheberrechte und Patente"
eingetreten. »
----
17. Acacia new licensee : Disney
[see the following newsletters for articles about the Acacia patent :
http://www.europe-shareware.org/pages/brevets/newsletter9.us.html
http://www.europe-shareware.org/pages/brevets/newsletter13.us.html
]
"Disney lizenziert Streaming-Technik von Acacia"
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/45072
Acacia claims that 116 companies have licensed its patent on downloading
media.
----
18. Microsoft patent policy
"Microsoft balances patents, standards"
http://news.com.com/2100-1013-5152665.html
A few quotes :
« In the past month, Microsoft has applied for
patents in Europe and elsewhere to cover how
XML-based documents are created in the company's
dominant Word software. »
« The applications are indicative of a struggle
faced by Microsoft and other companies: They want
to profit from their research and innovations,
yet standards-based technology has to be freely
available on some level to encourage broad
adoption and ensure interoperability. »
« [...] Microsoft embarks on a new mission to
generate more revenue from its intellectual
property. »
« "In the past, you could design things in a way
that was unique and didn't necessarily need to
interact with other products, but
interoperability is a key thing customers are
looking for now," [...] "You have to figure
out how you're going to enable that
interoperability, and providing predictable
access to your IP is part of that."
[David Kaefer, director of business development
for Microsoft] »
« The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has hundreds
of pending applications now for patents on
XML-related processes [...] »
----
19. Windows license harms IP of PC manufacturers
"Microsoft's Tokyo offices raided"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/business/3488186.stm
A few quotes :
« Officials from Japan's fair trade watchdog have
raided Microsoft's Tokyo offices on suspicion that
the US giant violated Japanese anti-monopoly laws. »
« The Fair Trade Commission alleges that Microsoft
insists that if the companies - such as NEC,
Hitachi and Sony - want to pre-install its Windows
software on their computers, they must sign away
their right to sue the US giant, even if they find
it has used their patent technology. »
"Japanese Unit of Microsoft Is Raided"
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040226/ap_on_bi_ge/
japan_microsoft_3
"Microsoft Raided By Japan's Fair Trade Commission"
http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?
pid=10000006&sid=aB79rPeUrwh0&refer=home#
----
20. USA : increase in patent fees
"Patent Fee Bill Will Harm Small Business without Conyers-Kaptur
Amendment, Patent Professional Association Says"
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040223/236028_1.html
A few quotes :
« Many small businesses will be irreparably harmed
if Congress adopts the pending U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office Fee Modernization Act
(H.R. 1561). »
« This bill establishes a new search fee and gives
the USPTO the unlimited ability to raise those
search fees without congressional approval [...] »
« Under H.R. 1561, small business patent filing
fees would double, from about $375 to $750. »
----
21. India : software patents = more patent litigations
"India to face more patent litigations"
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/478099.cms
A few quotes :
« India is likely to see more patent litigations in
the coming years as it joins the big league, says
Alok Aggarwal, founder and chairman of Evalueserve.
This is because very few Indian companies are
aware that they can patent software process too
- and large global IT companies who see them
as a threat are likely to challenge them by filing
IP violation cases against them, he pointed out. »
« According to Aggarwal, Indian companies also have
to be really vigilant very early in the product
development cycle about previous patents filed.
This might mean employing specialists to keep track
- else there could be a heavy price to pay:
typically about $3 million per case. Indian
companies are now starting to employ people to do
tracking. »
----
22. Will South Africa follow the EU ?
"SA Software Patents Unprotected"
http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200402240659.html
This article deals with the unpatentability of software in South Africa
and the debate in the EU.
A few quotes :
« South African patent law has been largely modelled
on the corresponding British legislation, and any
noteworthy amendments to patent law as it applies
in the EU may potentially influence the development
of patent law in SA. »
----
23. Australia ready for software patents crisis
"EFA slams IP clauses in US-Aust trade deal"
http://smh.com.au/articles/2004/02/12/1076388479843.html
A few quotes :
« [...] "harmonisation" of Australian patent law
with the US risked the creation of "software
patents" in Australia, EFA said. »
« Such patents had been regularly abused in the US
by major software companies who used them to
intimidate and suppress competition and innovation.
"Litigation over the alleged infringement of
"software patents" has become a lucrative business
model in the United States, and is a path that
Australia would be ill-advised to follow," it
said. »
----
24. Australia and business methods patents
"Australia to reject Europe's business method patent policy"
http://www.legalmediagroup.com/default.asp?
Page=1&SID=13775&CH=5&CN=Intellectual%20property&CountryName=&Type=News
A few quotes :
« Australia is set to ignore calls for a ban on
patenting business methods after a leading think
tank recommended no change to the present law. »
« The recommendation was made by the Advisory
Council on Intellectual Property (ACIP). The
Council, an independent body appointed by the
government, released its report into patenting
business methods last week. »
« The Council said the country should remain in line
with Japan, the US and New Zealand, where business
methods are patentable, rather than adopt the
restrictive practice in jurisdictions administered
under the European Patent Convention. »
----
25. The fallacy about patents
"The fallacy about patents"
http://news.com.com/2010-7343-5153026.html
Senior VP at IBM, Nicholas Donofrio, deals in this article with the
current hype around patents and why the USA should focuss their attention
on innovation rather than the number of patents granted.
----
26. The patent system is too costly
"Patent News From PubPat and IBM"
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20040205045715394
A few quotes :
« The Public Patent Foundation today argued before
the nation's foremost patent court that patent
law's requirement that a patent attorney be hired
every time one becomes aware of a patent that may
relate to their activity is "irrational and
unjustifiably prejudicial" »
« [...] a study from 1997 that determined the cost
for retaining a patent attorney to provide a
written opinion regarding a single patent can
cost up to $50,000 or more. »
----
27. Arundel : software patents slow down innovation
In the January issue of 'Innovation & Technologial Transfer', DG
Entreprises' magazine on innovation, Anthony Arundel from MERIT,
University of Maastricht, is quoted as saying that the current measures
in favour of patents may slow down innovation.
'Le problème des brevets' (page 11 of the French paper version of
'Innovation & Transfert Technologique', from DG Entreprises)
[here is the original text in French]
« La plus grande propension des entreprises
américaines à breveter est largement motivée
par une réaction de défense. Aux États-Unis,
le coût d'un procès est si élevé qu'il revient
beaucoup moins cher de déposer un brevet plutôt
que d'avoir à vous défendre contre un concurrent
qui vous poursuit pour contrefaçon.
Certains éléments semblent indiquer que les brevets
de l'OEB sont de meilleur qualité que ceux de
l'USPTO, et les frais de justice sont
certainement plus bas. Donc, il se peut que les
entreprises européennes estiment simplement
que les brevets défensifs ne sont pas nécessaires.
Dans ce cas, les mesures prises en vue
d'augmenter le nombre de demandes de brevet
pourraient en fait ralentir l'innovation en
contraignant l'industrie à supporter des
coûts supplémentaires. »
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