Posts by Don Christie
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I realise this threadjack has gone on too long
Well, these issues are important and interconnected. Patents are particularly harmful to those of us who work in the software industry. Not a single line of new code has ever *not* been written due to copyright. On the other hand, lots of great software and systems have been abandoned due to patents. Do you see the harm yet?
Whilst I am glad you have done some reading others my wish to have a look at some of the submissions that were made to the Commerce Select Committee:
http://nzoss.org.nz/news/2009/commerce-select-committee-hearings-patent-bill
and this post explains how big companies might pick up your start up for free through patents (and yes, it does happen).
All NZ IT companies are small in this context. -
No, but then I'm not the one arguing that the software industry should be a special case.
Actually, you are. Software did not have patents until very recently and it would be unique to have dual protection. Patents *are* special, not the norm. They are a privilege, an artificial monopoly, granted by the state in special circumstances.
I don't see a flood of evidence that software patents are actually harmful.
Perhaps then you could do us the favour of background research and reading before telling us s/w patents do no harm. Because there is plenty research and evidence that shows they do.
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It just happens that the groups opposed to software patentability are more vocal and better organised than other anti-patent groups.
You think? Or maybe it's just that the evidence in favour of s/w simply doesn't stack up. That was certainly the conclusion of the Commerce Select Committee who heard the "pro" views ad nauseum but who concluded the evidence of the "antis" was stronger.
Equally, your argument that Copyright is weak protection for software does not stack up. Time and time again the GPL licence, which relies on Copyright, has prevailed either in court or in out of court settlements. Same goes for most other software licences which have their underpinnings based on Copyright.
There has never been a time where the creation fo software has been curtailed through the lack of patent protection but there are plenty examples of it being curtailed as a result of patents.
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Thank you Islander. It means a lot to have people of your reputation understanding the issues.
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Russell, that is an excellent and succinct summary of the Wellington Declaration.
This ACTA treaty really does affect all of us in many ways, it is not just about counterfeiting, indeed, counterfeiting hardly gets a look in. It is about our future access to reasonably priced health treatments, knowledge dissemination, access to the Internet, the ability to go about our daily lives without being stalked and hounded by organisations whose last thoughts are for the humanity or even "rights holders" they pretend to represent.
Congratulations to those who planned, and ran the event and thanks also to the visitors from Canada and Australia who brought a global perspective that was invaluable.
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Russell, you are to Apple product launches what Garth McVicar is to "hang 'em high" laws. Go you good thing (tm)
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if significant savings wasn't the point of super sizing the city, what was?
Innovation.
I'm sure I read innovation somewhere.
And yeah, that Wellington thing, MMP changed the dynamics so use another term. We do stupid enough without others piling alleged stupidity on us.
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when resentment of Wellington's intentions towards us is already simmering
Look, I am quite happy to for Aucklanders to be deprived of the right to vote if it helps make that statement a reality. But until that happy day can I just say that most of the insane ideas politicians have thrown up since MMP have been very representative of the population north of the Bombay Hills.
The "intentions" are all in your court, Auckland. Sort it out.
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Here's a idea. We let Kerry put that sculpture where ever the heck she sees fit and in return she drops the inane insane Wallywood plan.
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The thing is we are not ripping off Hollywood but India. Bollywood existed long before Hollyngton.