"[Summary (and YouTube links) of a debate on software patents in New Zealand]: "I argued that software patents stifle innovation. When ideas are copied, extended, built upon - we all benefit. Patents stop this and thus stifle innovation. He argued that patents not necessary to protect industries based on ideas e.g. publishing because copyright does a good job. He pointed to the negative impacts of software patents such as the Android litigation which is stifling competition."
Source: http://nzoss.org.nz/news/2010/debating-software-patents-brett-roberts