Re: [Dev-C++] Software Patents in Europe

[<or...@vp...>]

mar1a wrote:

> In the next few days, the European Parliament will decide about the
> legalisation and adoption of so-called "software patents" in Europe, which
> are already used by large companies in other countries to put competitors
> out of business. This can lead to the termination of many software projects
> at least within Europe, because the holders of the over 30,000 already
> granted "software patents" (currently without a legal foundation) can claim
> exclusive rights and collect license fees for trivial things like "progress
> bars", "mouseclicks on online order forms", "scrolling within a window" and
> similar. That way, software developers will have to pay the
> "software-patentholders" for using these features, even in their own,
> completely self-developed applications, which can completely stall the
> development of innovative software for small and medium companies. Apart
> from this, the expense for patent inquiries and legal assistence is high,
> for even trying to find out if the self-developed software is possibly
> violating "software-patents", if you want to continue to market your
> software. Contrary to real patents, "software-patents" are, in the current
> draft, monopolization of business ideas and methods, even without any
> tangible technical implementation.
> 
> Support NOW!!! : http://aktiv.ffii.org/eubsa/en

Though this might seem spamish for newbies, this IS (was :D ) really 
serious. I truly recommend everyone to visit
http://www.ffii.org
for the latest news. You won't be disappointed :)

--
Greetings,
   Balázs