10.14.09
Patents Roundup: Another Nobel Laureate Opposes Intellectual Monopolies, New Briefs in Bilski Case
Summary: More notable opposition to intellectual monopolies; new symptoms of the patent systems’ issues and new filings on the subject of business method/software patents
ELINOR OSTROM has just won a Nobel prize and this is important because as Anivar points out, Ostrom is an opposer of intellectual monopolies, just like Joseph Stiglitz and Eric Maskin (mentioned last year), both of whom also won a Nobel prize for economics.
The patent system is in a bad state judging for example by the fact that Eolas goes Rambo on the entire industry [1, 2], having defeated Microsoft [1, 2]. Eolas is now relocating to where all the action is at.
Eolas’ Convenient Move To Texas
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While most were big name websites (Google, Yahoo, eBay, etc) there were a few that were odd, including retailer J.C. Penney and IT services provider Perot Systems (in the process of being bought by Dell). Well, the ever resourceful Joe Mullin points out that, of course, these firms just so happen to be located in Texas, which helps Eolas come up with a reason why its lawsuit should be in Texas.
Microsoft, Google, the FFII, ABA and others have filed briefs to be used in the Bilski case, adding or taking away weight from previous ones that clearly oppose software patents [1, 2]. Groklaw has complete copies.
More intriguing Bilski briefs filed. The door is shut now, so there will be no more, I gather. Both the ABA and Patently O have them all listed, and the latter includes a helpful brief blurb giving an outline of the theme of each. So read them all if you wish.
Among the opposers of software patents who submitted a brief we have Red Hat, the FFII, the FSF, and the SFLC.
In YouTube we have just found this fairly recent chat with Eben Moglen, who explains what to do in Brazil in order to permanently block software parents. Here it is as Ogg Theora. █
