At the ECM in Durban a number of discussions occured about software patents,
and the chilling effect they could have on innovation. This has lead to an
official Statement from the European Crystallographic Association (discussed
by the ECA council), which was sent to Members of the European Parliament.
This statement is now available online at: http://www.ecanews.org/eca3.htm
"[...] Software innovation traditionally depends on diversity of effort from
many contributors, and is not driven by developments from a protected
few.
As this new legislation would only stifle innovation and prevent new
research on algorithms from both academic researchers and small and medium
enterprises, we believe that software should continue to he protected by
copyright laws alone, in the spirit of the Munich convention, which excludes
'discoveries, scientific theories, mathematical methods and computer
programs' from patent application. ' "
The vote on software patents has now been pushed back to the parliament
session between 22nd and 26th of september 2003. If you wish to voice your
concern, now is the time, by encouraging official statements of well-known
organisations or scientists, or writing directly to your representatives at
the European Parliament.
More information is available from:
http://objcryst.sourceforge.nethttp://swpat.ffii.org/ (non-crystallographic)
Vincent Favre-Nicolin
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Vincent Favre-Nicolin
Universiti Joseph Fourier
CEA/Grenoble DRFMC/SP2M
DRFMC/SP2M/Nano-structures et Rayonnement Synchrotron
17, rue des Martyrs 38054 Grenoble Cedex 9
38054 Grenoble Cedex 9 - France
