Also the news story on the register came from http://www.electricnews.net/ and according to their site : " ElectricNews.Net is the technology newswire for Ireland, publishing updated technology and e-business news in areas including e-commerce, advertising & marketing, investment, and wireless technologies. An essential guide to the vibrant world of IT in one of the world's most exciting e-business centres, ElectricNews.Net was established in 1999 and has built a loyal readership of Irish and international decision makers and technology specialists"
Check out the about from electricnews of the guy wrote the story :"Ciaran Buckley is a finance and technology journalist and is a regular contributor to ElectricNews.net, Business and Finance, The Irish Farmers Journal, The Sunday Business Post, Ireland on Sunday and The Irish Independent. Prior to becoming a journalist, Ciaran worked as a consultant to the Microsoft Corporation in Dublin and Seattle and as a financial analyst with Berg & Co in Boston, Massachussetts. He was awarded the Wallace non-Fiction Prize in 1991 by the Yale Daily News Magazine. "
-Harry
On Fri, Nov 28, 2003 at 11:26:47AM +0000, Ian Clarke wrote:
Harry Tormey wrote:
http://theregister.co.uk/content/4/34244.html
From story : "The purpose of patents is to encourage innovation, so
that you can create something, patent it, make money from it and use the money for further innovation," said Karen Murray, a barrister and lecturer on IT law at the National College of Ireland. "But the patents are published and are available for people who would like to enhance that innovation."
Any one have any thoughts on the tone of the story ?
It is unfortunate that, which Karen Murray accurately explained the *purpose* of patents, she did not comment on how well they achieve their stated purpose in the realm of software (ie. they fail completely, and actually raise the cost and risk associated with innovation).
I wasn't aware of the $15B R&D threat, clearly a bluff. If they were happy to spend $15B without software patents before, why not now?
Is there a rebuttal to that letter? If so, does anyone know if it has been sent to MEPs?
Ian.