EU Court Adviser Says Software Ideas Can't Be Copyrighted 196
bhagwad writes "The EU continues to ooze common sense as a court insists that software functions themselves cannot be copyrighted. Drawing a box or moving cursor are examples. To quote: 'If it were accepted that a functionality of a computer program can be protected as such, that would amount to making it possible to monopolize ideas, to the detriment of technological progress and industrial development.'" Note that this is a "non-binding opinion by Yves Bot, an advocate-general at the Luxembourg-based EU Court of Justice,"
and that the court "will rule on the case next year."
Please let the Americans know this ... (Score:5, Insightful)
Can you point out to those folks on the other side of the Atlantic that software patents stiffle invention and innovation.
Thanks.
Re:Don't worry Apple (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Please let the Americans know this ... (Score:2, Insightful)
They don't have to. U.S. courts recognize International Law as it exists.
Except when it doesn't suit them, and thats pretty much always.
Re:Please let the Americans know this ... (Score:5, Insightful)
Dear EU,
Can you point out to Slashdot moderators the difference between copyright and patents?
Thanks
Intellectual Property is killing everything (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Please let the Americans know this ... (Score:4, Insightful)
maybe you don't realize that people do try to claim copyright on API's which are software.
Where have I heard that before....oh right? maybe the google vs oracle case?
Patents and copyright both have problems, at least we can work on one at a time.
Re:Intellectual Property is killing everything (Score:5, Insightful)
There are so many lawsuits flying around over patents, copyrights and wishful thinking that it's no wonder we are in recession.
LOL. Yes, clearly recessions are caused by patents and copyrights, and not out of control bankers, loose regulations surrounding investment houses, and various European governments not being able to control their budgets.
Re:Don't worry Apple (Score:5, Insightful)
What's the difference?
A design patent is specifically about the look and feel of a product. This may include rounded corners. It does not rely on prior art in that no one made an electronic device with rounded corners before, but that this tablet computer with rounded corners and certain other features is a certain look and feel that does not exist yet in the tablet computer market.
And, how is that difference relevant?
A design patent is look and feel, a utility patent is how you do something.
It is really quite simple when you quit trying to make it difficult.
Re:Don't worry Apple (Score:2, Insightful)
In my mind, it's better to use that choice in such a way as to try to effect positive change whereever you can
Ranting on Slashdot is very unlikely to change patent law. But if it makes you feel better, carry on, but don't try to convince anyone it is to bring about positive change.
Re:Don't worry Apple (Score:3, Insightful)
I love how corporations are, supposedly, people, but noone expects them to act ethically or for the good of the society. One would think, it was ment to be the other way around...
Re:Finally! (Score:5, Insightful)
You can't copyright a recipe but you can copyright a cookbook. Likewise you shouldn't be able to copyright a software design/function but you should be able to copyright a software implementation of that design/function.
Re:Finally! (Score:5, Insightful)
Copyright is for controlling the distribution of information. The only protection for information is duplication and distrubition.
Re:Please let the Americans know this ... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Finally! (Score:4, Insightful)
Very good. You mind if I use that?
Re:Intellectual Property is killing everything (Score:3, Insightful)
Greek debt was about 100% of GDP for quite some time. "Unusually high"? Who knows. "Unsustainably high"? definitely. Meanwhile, the US debt recently passed 100% of GDP. Yeah, we're pretty fucked.