Les brevets sur les logiciels et leur danger pour le shareware

Europe Shareware software patents newsletter #3
17 April 2003

Webpage: http://www.europe-shareware.org/pages/brevets.fr.html



CONTENTS:

1. India's software sector hampered by software patents

2. The EPO is going to exclude non-Microsoft systems

3. Greenspan on Market Economies and Rule of Law

4. European scientists against software patents



----
1. India's software sector hampered by software patents

In the #47 issue of the AcComex economic journal (french journal), the economist Diana 
Hochraich has written an article about the strengths and weaknesses of India's economy 
(titled: "Atouts et contraintes de l'�conomie indienne").

Even though India exports many software or software-related products (services related to 
software have shown an average growth rate of 30% per year during the mid-1990s), economic 
data show that the software sector's contribution to the commercial balance is only modest 
because India must import many patents.


Here's a quote (in french):
  " D�s le milieu des ann�es quatre-vingt dix, les exportations 
    des services de technologie d'information ont connu une 
    croissance de 30% l'an, poussant la progression de l'ensemble
    des services �  un rythme annuel de 22%. Mais le contenu en 
    importations des exportations du secteur �tait relativement 
    �lev� du fait de l'importation de brevets. Au total, les 
    exportations de logiciels - qui ne repr�sentent que 10% du 
    montant total des exportations de biens - ont une contribution 
    modeste au solde commercial. "


You can also find this article in the #2796 issue of the french magazine 
"Probl�mes �conomiques" (this magazine is published by "La Documentation Fran�aise", 
a department of the French Prime Minister).



----
2. The EPO is going to exclude non-Microsoft systems

As the European Patent Office webmaster (who is a freelancer, this doesn't bode well 
and shows a lack of seriouness for an international institution) said in the epoline 
mailing list that the news European Patent Office website will be tailored for the 
Microsoft browser and system and won't comply with web standards, many patent 
professionals are protesting against this move.

Here's an open letter from A. Horns, a german patent examiner using Linux OS.






"              On Data Formats for the "epoline" System   

                              (A. Horns DE)   

Recently D. K. Speiser in his capacity as Chair of the epi Online 
Communications Committee ("OCC") has delivered a report1 on certain 
considerations and conclusions concerning technical details of the on-
 line filing procedure ("OFP") as implemented by the epoline system 
of the EPO. According to this report, the OCC conveyed the message to 
the EPO that representatives using the present on-line filing ("OLF") 
system have a severe liability problem stemming from the danger of 
possible omissions caused by the software. The report further states 
that the problem of incomplete disclosure originates from the desire 
of the EPO to receive the texts in a particular common format called 
Portable Document Format ("PDF"). The arguing as put forward by the 
OCC starts with an assertion saying that the PDF format is not the 
native storage format for most word processing and drawing programs 
but requires a separate conversion step. To convert the output of 
those products into the needed PDF format a PDF converter software is 
required and up to now there is no PDF converter known that works 
error-free. From the OCC's point of view which meanwhile has been 
adopted by the epoline project, the inclusion into the electronic 
filing of the original technical documents on which the on-line 
application is based in other formats like MS-Word or AutoCAD is 
deemed to be a sound solution. This discussion as reported by the OCC 
sheds some light on a particular aspect of a matter which perhaps has 
not drawn as much attention amongst wider circles as it should 
deserve. The electronic communication infrastructure with all its 
technical regulations will exert a considerable influence on the 
shape of the daily work of the patent professional and surely will as 
well form a technological and, last but not least, economic 
framework. In detail, relevant questions might e.g. be:   

�Should it be deemed justified if the EPO sets some sort of  
regulation including a technical framework which urges or even  
effectively forces patent professionals acting before the EPO to 
install a particular proprietary software from a single vendor, i.e. 
by imposing data formats which can be created only on IT systems 
based on MS-Windows?   

�With regard to data exchange formats, should proprietary solutions 
be encouraged or are there any advantageous open standards available 
for use with regard to the various aspects of the electronic 
communication between the EPO and the patent professionals?   

�Can such open standards serve to balance the exploitation of the 
benefits of the introduction of electronic communication between the 
EPO and the patent professionals?   

�Which steps should be made in order to identify and utilise such 
open standards?   

As a starting point for a further and more technical discussion a 
paper on some implications of the choice of data formats for text 
representation is provided by Axel H Horns (epi, PAK) on-line on the 
epi website under the URL quoted at the beginning of this text."    



----
3. Greenspan on Market Economies and Rule of Law

Alan Greenspan, president of the US Federal Reserve (US counterpart of the European Central 
Bank), is doubtful about the positive effects of extended Intellectual Property (IP) 
rights on the economy (such as software patents).
He raises some good questions that need to be answered.




April 4, 2003


"   If our objective is to maximize economic growth, are we striking the
    right balance in our protection of intellectual property rights? 
    Are the protections sufficiently broad to encourage innovation but 
    not so broad as to shut down follow-on innovation? Are such 
    protections so vague that they produce uncertainties that raise 
risk premiums and the cost of capital? How appropriate is our current
system--developed for a world in which physical assets predominated--
for an economy in which value increasingly is embodied in ideas rather 
than tangible capital? "



----
4. European scientists against software patents

A dutch IT magazine ('Automatiseringgids') has an article about a
scientists petition against swpats.



Many well-known computer scientists are signatories.

Text of the petition, in French and English (signers at the end).


[Fran�ais]
"   Depuis 1997, l'Office Europ�en des Brevets a d�velopp� puis 
    g�n�ralis� la d�livrance de brevets couvrant des algorithmes, 
    des logiciels, des structures de donn�es et des m�thodes de 
    traitement de l'information. Dans une proposition de directive 
    du 20 fevrier 2002, la Commission europ�enne a propos� 
    d'officialiser cette d�rive, la pr�sentant comme un status quo,
    alors qu'il s'agit d'une extension consid�rable du champ de la
    brevetabilit�, en opposition radicale avec l'esprit de la
    Convention Europ�nne des Brevets (convention de Munich) qui 
    exclut de la brevetabilit� les m�thodes math�matiques, les 
    programmes d'ordinateur et les pr�sentations d'informations. 

    Les signataires sont des scientifiques et des cr�ateurs de 
    logiciels qui   ont contribu� chacun � leur mesure au fantastique
    d�veloppement des technologies de l'information. Nous attirons 
    l'attention des parlementaires europ�ens sur le danger extr�me 
    qu'il y aurait � accepter le texte propos� par la Commission. 
    Officialiser la brevetabilit� des algorithmes, des principes 
    des logiciels, des m�thodes de traitement de l'information ou 
    des structures de donn�es serait scandaleux du point de vue
    l'�thique, injustifi� et nuisible du point de vue de l'�conomie,
    d�favorable � la poursuite de l'innovation scientifique et 
    technique, et dangereux pour la d�mocratie.

    Scandaleux du point de vue de l'�thique car aujourd'hui et demain, 
    les connaissances, les informations, les id�es ne peuvent plus 
    �tre s�par�es des repr�sentations et outils logiciels. C'est
    donc � une v�ritable mise aux ench�res du domaine des id�es et 
    des connaissances que se livrent les offices de brevets, alors 
    que ce domaine a toujours �t� consid�r� comme un bien commun, 
    pr�cieux et inappropriable.

    Injustifi� du point de vue de l'�conomie car les arguments qui 
    ont justifi� la cr�ation des brevets pour les industries m�caniques 
    ou chimiques, ou plus g�n�ralement manufacturi�res, ne s'appliquent
    en rien aux logiciels. Nul besoin pour eux de ces monopoles 
    sans lesquels on h�siterait � construire des usines de production. 
    Les industries manufacturi�res pourront continuer � breveter leurs
    dispositifs techniques, qu'ils incluent ou non des logiciels, 
    comme elles ont toujours pu le faire. Mais cette protection ne doit 
    pas s'�tendre aux logiciels. La protection des logiciels par le 
    droit d'auteur a permis le d�veloppement d'immenses industries, 
    sans nul besoin des brevets. Ceux-ci y sont non seulement inutiles, 
    mais nuisibles pour l'�conomie, car cela figerait et renforcerait 
    les monopoles si puissants qui �mergent dans les industries de 
    l'information, alors m�me que nous avons besoin au contraire 
    d'instruments renouvel�s pour faire vivre la concurrence.

    D�favorable � la poursuite de l'innovation scientifique et 
    technique, car dans un domaine comme celui-l�, elle a besoin plus 
    que tout de la circulation ouverte des id�es et des connaissances, 
    et non de l'appropriation sauvage de petits fiefs. Les brevets y
    institueraient une immense taxe sur l'innovation, alimentant un 
    syst�me �chappant � tout contr�le et servant les positions acquises.

    Dangereux pour la d�mocratie, car les outils d'expression, de d�bat,
    de m�dias, de consultation des citoyens d�pendent de fa�on critique 
    des logiciels. Imagine-t-on de permettre la monopolisation de ces 
    vecteurs essentiels de la d�mocratie de demain ?

    Les offices de brevets, tout comme certains technocrates de la 
    propri�t� intellectuelle ont montr� une imagination sans bornes pour
    justifier contre l'esprit la mise aux ench�res de ce qui doit rester 
    le bien de tous. Nous demandons aux parlementaires europ�ens, quel 
    que soit leur parti, d'adopter un texte qui rende impossible de 
    fa�on claire, pour aujourd'hui et pour demain, toute brevetage des
    id�es sous-jacentes des logiciels (ou algorithmes), des m�thodes 
    de traitement de l'information, des repr�sentations de celle-ci ou 
    des donn�es, et des interfaces logiciels entre �tres humains et 
    ordinateurs. "


[English]

"   From 1997, the European Patent Office has initiated and generalised 
    the granting of patents for algorithms, software ideas, data 
    structures and information processing methods. In a directive 
    proposal on 20 February 2002, the European Commission proposed to 
    officialise this abuse, presenting it as a status quo. In fact, 
    this is a considerable extension of scope of patentability, in 
    breach of the spirit of the European Patent Convention that 
    excludes from patentability mathematical methods, computer 
    programs and presentations of information. 

    The signatories are scientists and software innovators, each of 
    which has contributed at his level to the extraordinary development 
    of information technology. We draw the attention of the Members of 
    the European Parliament to the danger that would arise from 
    accepting the text proposed by the Commission as it stands. 
    Acceptance of patentability of algorithms, of principles of 
    software, of information processing methods or of data structures 
    is scandalous from the view point of ethics, economically 
    unjustified and harmful, would impact adversely scientific and 
    technical innovation, and puts democracy at danger. 

    It is ethically scandalous, because in today's world, knowledge, 
    information and ideas can not be separated from their technical 
    representations and the software that manipulate them. It would 
    allow patent offices to further develop the giant auctioning of 
    the domain of ideas and knowledge, when this domain was always 
    considered as a precious common good, that can not be turned in 
    anyone's property. 
 
    It is economically unjustified, because the very arguments that 
    have been used to justify patents for mechanical and chemical 
    industries, or more generally manufacturing, do not apply in 
    anyway to software. No need for software of those monopolies 
    without which one could hesitate to build a production plant. 
    Manufacturing can very well continue to patent their technical 
    devices, whether or not they include software components, as 
    have done for decades. But this protection must not be extended 
    to software. Copyright protection for software has allowed the 
    development of huge industries, without any need for patents. 
    They would be not only useless, but also extremely harmful, 
    because they would cast in concrete the so powerful oligopolies 
    that naturally emerge in information-based industries, when we 
    need on the contrary new instruments to create more competition. 

    In the field of software and information, scientific and technical 
    innovation needs the open exchange of ideas and knowledge more 
    than anything, in contrast to the land grab of ideas. Patents 
    would institute a giant tax on innovation, feeding a system out 
    of control, servant of established positions. 
 
    It puts democracy at danger, since the tools of public expression, 
    of debate, of media, of public consultation are critically 
    dependent on software. How can one imagine to create private 
    monopoly statute for this essential basis of tomorrow's 
    democracy ? 
 
    Patent offices and some technocrats of intellectual property 
    have demonstrated an imagination without limits in order to 
    justify the auctioning of what belongs to the public against 
    the spirit of their charter. We urge the Members of the European 
    Parliament, whatever their party affiliation, to adopt a text 
    that will make impossible, clearly, for today and tomorrow, 
    any patenting of the underlying ideas of software (or 
    algorithms), of information processing methods, of 
    representations of information and data, and of interaction 
    between human beings and computers. 


[Signataires/Signatories]
- Andr� Arnold, Professeur d'Informatique, LaBRI, Talence France
- Henk Barendregt, Prof.dr, Foundations of Mathematics and Computer 
Science, Faculty of Science, Toernooiveld 1, The Netherlands
- Jan A. Bergstra, Instituut Informatica, University of Amsterdam, 
The Netherlands
- Mark van den Brand, General Secretary of the European Association 
for Programming Languages and Systems, Centrum voor Wiskunde en Informatica
- Maurice Bruynooghe, Editor in Chief of Theory and Practice of Logic 
Programming, Professor, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Heverlee, Belgi�, 
- Luigia Carlucci Aiello, AAAI and ECCAI Fellow, Full Professor of Computer Science, Roma, 
Italy
- Bruno Courcelle, Professeur d'Informatique, Vice-Pr�sident de l'Universit� Bordeaux I, 
LaBRI, Talence, France
- Pierre-Louis Curien, Directeur de Recherches au CNRS, Directeur de l'UMR Preuves, 
Programmes et Syst�mes,  Universit� Denis Diderot
PARIS, France
- Philippe Flajolet, Prize Award 1986, Corresponding Member of the French Academy of 
Sciences, Member Academia Europaea, and Dr Honoris 
Causa, Brussels, Directeur de recherches, INRIA, France, 
- Maurizio Gabrielli, Professor of Computer Science, Dipartimento di Scienze de 
l'Informazione, Universit� di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Manuel Hermenegildo, Full Professor, Departamento de Inteligencia 
Artificial, Facultad de Informatica, Universidas Politecnica de Madrid, Boadilla del 
Monte, Spain
- G�rard Huet, Member of the French Academy of Sciences, Member Academia Europaea, 
Herbrand Award  1997, Directeur de recherches, INRIA, France
- Neil Jones, ACM Fellow, Full professor of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen, 
DENMARK
- Paul Klint, Prof. Dr., President of the Board of the European Association for 
Programming Languages and Systems, Head of Department of Software Engineering, 
Centrum voor Wiskunde en Informatica, Amsterdam,The Netherlands
- Herbert Kuchen, Prof. Dr., Westf�liche Wilhems-Universit�t M�nster, Institut 
f�r Wirtschaftsinformatik, M�nster, Germany
- Markus Kuhn, Lecturer, University of Cambridge, Computer Laboratory, Cambridge UK
- Jean-Jacques L�vy, Directeur de Recherches, INRIA, France, Also Professeur � 
L'Ecole Polytechnique. 
- Ramon Lopez de Mantaras, ECCAI Fellow, European AI Award, Full Research Professor, 
IIIA - Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, CSIC - Spanish Scientific 
Research Council Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain
- Alan Mycroft, Reader, University of Cambridge, Computer Laboratory, Cambridge, UK, 
- Robin Milner, Turing Award 1991, Fellow of the Royal Society of London, Fellow of 
the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Founding Member of Academia Europaea, Holder of six 
honorary doctorates from five countries, Winner of Italgas Award 1991, Ex-head of 
the Computer Laboratory, Cambridge University, University of Cambridge, Computer 
Laboratory, Cambridge, UK
- Ugo Montanari, Professor, Dipartimento di Informatica, Universit� di Pisa, Italy
- Maurice Nivat, EACTS Award 2002, 
(http://www.eatcs.org/Activities/Awards/eatcs_award2002.html)
Attainville, France
- Bengt Nordstrom, Professor, Department of Computing Science, Chalmers University 
of Technology, G�teborg, Sweden 
- Brian Randell, Emeritus Professor, and Senior Research Investigator, School of 
Computing Science, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Willem-Paul de Roever, Prof. Dr., chair of Software Technology, Institut f�r 
Informatik und Prakt. Mathematik, Christian-Albrechts-Universit�t zu Kiel, Germany
- Lorenza Saitta, ECCAI Fellow, Full Professor of Computer Science, Dipartimento 
of Informatica, Universit� Amedeo Avogadro, Alessandria, Italy
- G�raud S�nizergues, Godel Prize 2002, Professeur d'Informatique, LaBRI, Talence, France
- Carsten Svaneborg, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Theory Group,  
Mainz, Germany, 
- Andrew S. Tanenbaum, Professor of Computer Science, Division of Mathematics 
and Computer Science, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Wolfgang Thomas, Full Professor of Computer Science, Lehrstuhl Informatik VII, 
RWTH Aachen, Germany, 
also supported by (not yet EU citizen / EU resident): 
- Jerzy Tiuryn, Full Professor, Institute of Informatics, Warsaw University, 
Banacha 2, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland, tiuryn@minuw.edu.pl 

 

newsletter #4

newsletter #3

newsletter #2

archive des actu brevets