Corporate Media in India Misrepresents Startups to Push for Software Patents

Dr. Roy Schestowitz

2016-08-25 17:03:33 UTC
Modified: 2016-08-25 17:03:33 UTC

New Delhi

Summary: A parade of misinformation as seen in Indian (but English-speaking) press this week as questions about patentability of software resurface

FOREIGN giants which operate in India (companies like IBM and Microsoft) just can't help trying to repeatedly introduce software patents in India, aided by front groups and lawyers of theirs. Why on Earth is NASSCOM, which is connected to Bill Gates [1, 2, 3], participating in a debate in India regarding software patents or even just software? "NEW rules designed to boost India’s software industry will open for public consultation in a matter of days, say sources close to the matter," said one new article among several this week (e.g. [1, 2). These mentioned software patents as well and some correctly noted that "this opens them [software companies] to patent trolls. Dealing with patent trolls here as India doesn't have software patents." The English here is problematic and then it says this: "So the conundrum for startups is whether to stay in India or not."

"India is constantly being lobbied by big businesses that are not even Indian."No, startups would be wasting their time pursuing patents on software. In practice, heavy-pocketed corporations from abroad want software patents. Indian startups do not. But don't count on corporate media like the above to accurately represent the desires and needs of ordinary Indians. Neither should anyone trust NASSCOM, one among several Indian agencies that act like outposts and brought India nothing but EDGI.

India is constantly being lobbied by big businesses that are not even Indian. Watch what Microsoft has done to the Modi government earlier this year and last year. It shot down a Free/Open Source software policy. ⬆

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Corporate Media in India Misrepresents Startups to Push for Software Patents

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