One Step Close to Cracking Down on Software Patents in America?
Dr. Roy Schestowitz
2007-10-06 18:58:52 UTC
Modified: 2007-10-06 18:58:52 UTC
It appears as though software patents' almost-identical twin, namely business methods patents, has just lost a tooth.
Ruling May Make It Harder to Protect Business Methods
A federal appeals court has issued a ruling that may make it more difficult to obtain and enforce so-called business-method patents, which are granted for abstract processes rather than specific devices. Legal experts say the decision could help financial-services and software companies facing a barrage of patent-infringement litigation brought by patent holders.
Patents pertaining to business methods are forbidden here in the United Kingdom. The same goes for software patents, which can be virtually ignored. However, looking elsewhere as well, some people (including and even notably Microsoft) seem to be finding workarounds, which is violation of the law, at least in South Africa.
The Microsoft-sponsored 'FSFE', which violates the terms of use of its name, is causing confusion [...] formally-recognised institutions got tricked into thinking that the Microsoft-sponsored 'FSFE' is the FSF
Unregulated industries will lose their credibility as there is a threat of growing perception that they operate outside the law rather than practice law
