Software patents are threat to open-source software.<\/p>\n
Companies can and will use software patents in an unpleasant way, because they
\nhave money to pay lawyers while open-source software developers don’t.
\nSmall companies with a tight budget are also likely to suffer.<\/p>\n
The use of software patents to protect the investments that a company made in
\ntheir software is very small. The misuse will be very big, also because
\npatents can be very vague. There is a big difference with patents on
\ninventions of other nature, such as mechanical, because software can be
\nprotected by copyright. And a software invention usually doesn’t require big
\ninvestments. You can think of ten items to patent in an hour (believe me, I
\nhave done it). Applying for a patent is just a matter of paying a patent
\nattorney.<\/p>\n
The European Governement is going to vote on Software Patents on
\nSeptember first. August 27th there will be a big
\nprotest action in Brussels.<\/p>\n
More information about software patents on
\nthis page <\/p>\n