Software Patents News & Views

The articles and comments on this site reflect the views and opinions of their authors and do not represent an official statement by the FFII or the admins of this site.

"No Power for the Parliament" warns EPO examiners association

11 May 2010 15:01 — The Staff Union of the EPO sent a letter to the President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, warning of risks integrated into the accession of the European Union to the European Patent Convention (EPC). They warn that the European Parliament can be circumvented as a legislator in patent law. — Comments: 39 — by zoobabzoobab 11 May 2010 15:01

Alvaro asks 9 questions to the Commission about ACTA, including 3 strikes and transparency

10 Feb 2010 16:11 — Alexander Alvaro (ALDE) has asked 9 questions about ACTA, including 3 strikes and transparency, or the access by the INTA committee to the drafts documents. He is also asking about changes to substantive patent law (read software patents here). — Comments: 29 — by zoobabzoobab 10 Feb 2010 16:11

Members of European Parliaments ask when they will receive the ACTA documents

09 Feb 2010 12:05 — Some Member of the European Parliament have asked when they will receive the ACTA documents, mentioning the Lisbon Treaty article 218 which says that the Parliament have to be "fully informed" of the negotiations. The new trade commissioner Karel DeGucht said previously that the Lisbon Treaty do not apply to ACTA, because the confidentiality of the talks were negotiated before. — Comments: 32 — by zoobabzoobab 09 Feb 2010 12:05

FFII and IP Justice file Bilski Amicus Brief to the U.S. Supreme Court

07 Oct 2009 12:14 — The Foundation for a Free Informational Infrastructure (FFII) and IP Justice filed an Amicus Curiae Brief to the U.S. Supreme Court. The case Bilski v. Kappos is expected to become a landmark ruling on the future of the U.S. patent system. The joint Brief explains the interlink of software and business methods, and points out alternatives to the so called Machine-or-Transformation test used for categorizing patents. — Comments: 9 — by zoobabzoobab 07 Oct 2009 12:14

IBM says software patents drive OSS development

02 Sep 2009 22:30 — In its Amicus Brief to the US Supreme Court on the Bilski case, IBM is arguing that "patent protection has promoted the free sharing of source code [...] which has fueled the explosive growth of open source software development." — Comments: 87 — by zoobabzoobab 02 Sep 2009 22:30

What's wrong with the United Patent Litigation System (UPLS)?

08 Jul 2009 11:54 — A journalist of WorldIPReview recently asked FFII what were its views of the proposed United Patent Litigation System (UPLS), which is now being questioned by the Council in a submission to the ECJ. FFII had already published a press release mentioning the new push for software patents in Europe via a centralised and trusted court. — Comments: 0 — by zoobabzoobab 08 Jul 2009 11:54

The Bilski test was invented by IBM

03 Jul 2009 17:34 — By reading the Amicus Brief of IBM to the CAFC, it is pretty clear that the machine tranformation test which allows software patents and ban business method patents was invented by IBM lawyers. — Comments: 220 — by zoobabzoobab 03 Jul 2009 17:34

USPTO refuses to disclose Bilski's pending patent application

22 Jun 2009 12:34 — The US Supreme Court will soon hear Bilski on why software and business method patents are so good for the US economy. I was trying to find out where the Bilski's pending patent application was published, and I ended up writing to the new USPTO President and ex-IBM David Kappos. I finally got an answer from a USPTO official that the Bilski's pending patent application cannot be seen by the public. — Comments: 38 — by zoobabzoobab 22 Jun 2009 12:34

Patent expert Alison Crofts says EPLA is pushed by pro-software patents lobby

09 Jun 2009 10:49 — In its edition of IP Value 2007, the Intellectual Asset Magazine (IAM) was publishing an article about the Reform of European Patent System, where an expert mentions that the push for the EPLA is coming from the pro-software patents lobby. — Comments: 5 — by zoobabzoobab 09 Jun 2009 10:49

European Patent Office refuses spanish amicus brief against software patents

04 Jun 2009 20:24 — Alberto Barrionuevo, CEO of the small spanish software company OpenTIA and ex-president of the FFII, had submitted an amicus brief to the Enlarged Board of Appeal in spanish. The European Patent Office has notified him that they are refusing his letter because it was not written in one of the 3 official languages of the EPO. — Comments: 1 — by zoobabzoobab 04 Jun 2009 20:24

European Commission pushes for software patents via a trusted court

12 May 2009 13:30 — The European Commission is pushing for software patents via a centralised trusted patent court that would be created with the United Patent Litigation System (UPLS), an international treaty that would remove national courts. This court system would be shielded against any review by the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Thus patent judges would have the last word on software patents. — Comments: 27 — by zoobabzoobab 12 May 2009 13:30

Conference on "Make software patents work for SMEs"

22 Apr 2009 11:25 — The European Commission is organising a conference dedicated to "Make IPR work for SMEs" next Monday in Brussels. You can here submit your questions for next Monday on how to "Make software patents work for SMEs". — Comments: 49 — by zoobabzoobab 22 Apr 2009 11:25

Stallman: "The EPO is a corrupt and malicious organisation which should not exist"

20 Apr 2009 12:25 — Last Wednesday, farmers and software developers were demonstrating in Munich in front of the European Patent Office. Richard Stallman was describing the European Patent Office as a "corrupt and malicious organisation which should not exist". — Comments: 0 — by zoobabzoobab 20 Apr 2009 12:25

The ACTA draft treaty is covering patent infringement

14 Apr 2009 23:27 — Wikileaks has published some drafts of the secret ACTA treaty, which aims to give better guns to Patent Trolls. The draft mentions that it covers all the rights covered by TRIPS, so it will cover also patents. — Comments: 37 — by zoobabzoobab 14 Apr 2009 23:27

Secret European Union mandate to negotiate ACTA leaked: fears confirmed

12 Apr 2009 10:32 — The secret European Union mandate to negotiate the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) was leaked. Member of the European Parliament Jens Holms said the document has confirmed his fears. — Comments: 1 — by anteante 12 Apr 2009 10:32

Call the Obama administration and ask for your copy of ACTA now!

06 Apr 2009 16:55 — The Obama administration wants to be called about the status of negotiations of ACTA. Call the Obama administration and ask for your copy of ACTA now! — Comments: 11 — by zoobabzoobab 06 Apr 2009 16:55

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