Techrights.org has this new Wiki/Kiwi page about software patents in New Zealand. Some days ago we showed that NZICT, which lobbies for software patents, actually represents multinationals; it does not represent the local software industry. It is unfortunate that journalists pay attention to NZICT (also posted here without attribution to the lobby in the URL) because it does not know what it's talking about and it lobbies not from the point of view of New Zealand; it promotes foreign interests and makes ludicrous statements such as this one to support its position:
He said that they consider that it is vital for firms to keep hold of the alternative to shield their originality under copyright law, if that is their option.
The New Zealand Computer Society has come out in support of a ban on software patents, sending a letter yesterday to Minister of Commerce Simon Power supporting a Commerce Select Committee recommendation to remove patent protection for software in New Zealand law.
The move comes after a quick poll of NZCS members, IT professionals from around New Zealand, found 80 percent opposed patent protection for software.
"The Society acknowledges this is a complex issue with many reasons for and against patentability of software. However on balance, it is in New Zealand's best interests for software to be covered through the provisions of copyright in the same way movies and books are, rather than through the patent system which has significant problems," NZCS chief executive Paul Matthews says in a blog post.