Software Patent News 2004-12
What happened in December 2004 concerning software patents in Europe and surrounding subjects: Latest news linked to dossiers and tutorials provided by FFII and a community of wiki editors.
2004-12-30 US TechTree.com: IBM, Google Ask for Search Patents
2004-12-30 US InternetNews: Microsoft collects a pair of patents on compilation techniques
2004-12-31 IN The Statesman: PATENT LAWS - Developing Countries Suffer The Most (-> Nath0412En)
2004-12-30 EU ZDNet.co.uk: Patent intervention gives Poland the popular vote (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-29 IN Law.com/AP: Facing WTO Deadline, India Struggles With Patent Reform (-> Nath0412En)
2004-12-28 EU P2Pnet: New ContentGuard DRM patents (including 3 European patents) (-> Drm0412En)
2004-12-20 EU ContentGuard awarded 5 new DRM patents (-> Drm0412En)
2004-12-23 EU Karl-Friedrich Lenz: Learning from EICTA
2004-12-28 US Law.com: Texas IP Rocket Docket Headed for Burnout?
2004-12-28 IN Business Standard: Patents edict to push drug, IT exports: Nath (-> Nath0412En)
2004-12-28 IN The Financial Express: Patent ordinance eases processing, removes exclusive marketing rights (-> Nath0412En)
2004-12-28 IN DeepikaGlobal.com: India changes patent law through Ordinance (-> Nath0412En)
2004-12-27 IN Slashdot: India Quietly Introduces Software Patents (-> Nath0412En)
2004-12-27 IN New Kerala: Patent law protects public interest: Kamal Nath (-> Nath0412En)
2004-12-27 IN The Hindu: Product patent regime 'will not lead to higher drug prices' (-> Nath0412En)
2004-12-27 IN Press Information Bureau: Kamal Nath's statement on the ordinance relating to patents (-> Nath0412En)
2004-12-27 IN Press Information Bureau: Indian government says introduction of new patent regime opens vast opportunities (-> Nath0412En)
2004-12-27 IN Business Standard: Left for pruning patent list before GoM (-> Nath0412En)
2004-12-27 IN The Hindu Business Line: Changes in Bill to give patents for software (-> Nath0412En)
2004-12-27 IN Rediff.com: Ordinance kicks in product patents regime (-> Nath0412En)
2004-12-26 DE FFII takes part in Chaos Computer Club 21C3 Conference in Berlin (Dec 27-29) (-> Events)
2004-12-25 US Slashdot: US Patents for eBanking (-> Patents in Action)
2004-12-25 IN Business Standard: Patents edict likely next week (-> Nath0412En)
2004-12-25 US TVTechnology: MPEG LA Announces Plan for ATSC Patent License
2004-12-25 US NYTimes: Small Company Is Specializing in Suing Banks (-> Patents in Action)
2004-12-25 US How to deal with the patent system and how to change it
2004-12-24 US News.com: GPL revision will address software patents
2004-12-23 EU Computer Business Review: Microsoft likely to slap NDA on opened specs
2004-12-24 EU The Age: Site set up to thank Poland for stopping patent push
2004-12-23 EU/US XTVWorld/BusinessWire India PR: Sweden-Based Cycore is Granted Geographic Web Search Patent ("Web 3D Software Vendor Secures Geographic and Location Search Patent for North America and Europe")
2004-12-23 US E-Commerce Times: Apple Files Patent Application for iTunes Producer
2004-12-23 EU FFII: Buy Fair Technology, No Mobiles From the Patent Bullies!
2004-12-23 EU BBC: How patents protect innovation (-> CampaignForCreativity)
2004-12-23 EU EETimes UK: Intellect condemns EU patent decision (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-22 US FTC: FTC to sponsor town meetings on patent system reforms
2004-12-22 EU Groklaw: The EU Microsoft Decision (Comments and the full text)
2004-12-23 EU Silicon.com: Beers raised in appreciation of patent delay (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-23 EU The Register: How Microsoft played the patent card, and failed (analysis of MS EU appeal decision)
2004-12-22 IN Light Reading: Lucent Opens Research Center in India ("Bell Labs earns at least two patents a day")
2004-12-22 EU ZDNet.co.uk: Linux champion Munich welcomes patent delay (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-22 EU IPS News: Software Patent Delay Welcomed (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-22 EU OSNews: Poland Comes Through! - Software Patents Off the Agenda This Year (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-22 EU Out-Law: Patents Directive stalls once again (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-22 EU Slashdot: Poland Blocks European Software Patent Vote, For Now (now on front page, -> Withdrawal)
2004-12-22 UK The Register: Intellectual Property - 2004 in Review
2004-12-22 EU Computer Business Review: Poland pushes EU software patents off the agenda (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-22 EU VNU: EU delays innovation legislation (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-22 UK Intellect: Council's Decision Fails UK Hi-tech Innovation (almost carbon copy of EICTA statement) (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-22 EU EICTA: Industry condemns Council failure to support European high-tech innovation (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-22 EU BBC: EU software patent law delayed (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-22 EU ElectronicsWeekly: EU delay on patents will cost jobs, says trade body (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-22 DE Munich mayor calls for renegotiation in Council
2004-12-21 EU Out-law: Developers need protection from patents, says Richard Stallman (RMS vs Dr John Collins)
2004-12-22 EU PC Pro: Poland puts a spanner in the EU adoption of software patents (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-22 WW ZDNet.co.au: Microsoft, Citrix strike patent-sharing deal
2004-12-22 EU Sydney Morning Herald: Europe software patent push stalled (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-21 CH Norbert Bollow: Thank Poland letter (you can sign the "thank you"-letter via a web interface)
2004-12-21 EU Techweb: EU Software Patent Measure Placed In Limbo (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-21 EU IDG: Poles delay EU patent approval (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-21 EU Slashdot YRO: Poland Blocks Software Patents in the EU (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-21 EU Simon Phipps of Sun: Patents - Time for Wisdom (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-21 EU Groklaw: Poland Comes Through! Software Patents Off the Agenda This Year (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-21 EU The Register: Poland halts software patent directive (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-21 EU FFII: Council session transcript with recording available
2004-12-21 EU Reuters: Poland Delays Decision on EU Software Patent Rules (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-21 EU eWeek: EU Council Delays Vote on Patent Proposal (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-21 EU The Inquirer: EU software patent directive stalled (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-21 DE German minister of Justice Hints that Council Agreement Might be Renegotiatable
2004-12-21 EU ZDnet: Poles push patents off EU agenda (-> Withdrawal)
2004-12-21 EU FFII: Software Patents Withdrawn from Agricultural Council Agenda
2004-12-21 EU Prof. Lenz: Fictitious Approval ("The German Federal Constitutional Court has annulled a law for this kind of magical creation of non-existent majorities")
2004-12-21 DE The Register: Munich asks ministers to drop EU patent vote
2004-12-21 EU The Inquirer: Software patent directive steamrollered into being
2004-12-21 AU Builder.com.au: A patently bad idea?
2004-12-21 EU FFII: Adoption of software patent directive moved to afternoon (updated)
2004-12-21 DE FFII: German Minister To Stay Away Meeting Agricultural Council
2004-12-19 EU MIP Week: Software patent vote this week (Reg req'd)
2004-12-20 EU Council Spokeswoman: A-Items do not need to be on the published agenda as they are just adopted (-> Council Chaos)
2004-12-20 EU The Register: EU fish ministers to vote on software patents (-> Netaction)
2004-12-20 EU Euro-Greens Demand Restart of Software Patent Debate in Council (-> Netaction)
2004-12-20 EU ZDNet.co.uk: EU delays patent decision (-> Council Chaos)
2004-12-20 EU Groklaw: Report on EU Software Patents (-> Netaction)
2004-12-19 EU FFII: "Ministers of Agriculture, Please Click .." - Netaction for Democracy in the EU
2004-12-18 EU Prof. Lenz: Dutch Presidency Violating Council Rules, Subverting EU Democracy
2004-12-18 EU FFII: Is the NL presidency violating the Council's Rules of Procedure?
2003-00-00 FI Nokia IPR Director explains "Offensive IPR Strategy"
2004-12-17 EU FFII: Dutch Presidency TRIPs all over itself while modifying agenda against time
2004-12-17 EU ZDNet.co.uk: EU to throw patents in with the bath water (with warnings from !MEPs, -> Environment or Agriculture?)
2004-12-17 US ZDNet.co.uk: Acacia increasing patent arsenal (-> Acacia)
2004-12-17 EU FFII: Adoption of software patent directive moved from Environment to Agriculture Council
2004-12-16 US IPKat: Cross-licensing: a game for two?
2004-12-17 UK Cordis: UK backs EU Patents Directive (-> DTI Meeting)
2004-12-17 EU BBC: Be careful how you code (-> Council Rush)
2004-12-17 CA Yahoo PRNews: Former Canadian Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney joins Teilhard Technologies as special advisor (Teilhard boasts about the fact that other companies have been denied government contracts because they infringed its software patent)
2004-12-15 EU Eureporter: Interview with Microsoft spokesman about the court ruling, citations about IP and patents (p13)
2004-12-15 UK Richard Allan MP: Meeting the Minister (-> DTI Meeting)
2004-12-16 EU No more debate on EU patents directive draft The Register: (-> Council Rush)
2004-12-16 EU Herald Tribune: EU software patent vote (see second article, -> Council Rush)
2004-12-16 US CNET: Acacia purchase creates Net patent powerhouse (-> Acacia)
2004-12-16 UK Out-Law.com: UK rejects software patents but endorses Directive (-> DTI Meeting)
2004-12-16 EU Vrijschrift/FFII-NL: The EU Presidency denies the new members the rights the Protocol on the Role of National Parliaments in the European Union grants them, the Common Position on Software Patents will be illegal. (A second letter to COSAC)
2004-12-16 EU eWeek: EU Council Set to Approve Patent Proposal (-> Council Rush)
2004-12-16 WW CNET: Microsoft, Autodesk sign patent pact
2004-12-16 WW ZDNet.com.au: Father of Java labels patent case atrocious
2004-12-15 UK DMEurope: UK affirms support for EU software patent directive (-> DTI Meeting)
2004-12-15 EU ITWorld: E.U. rubber stamps patent rules
2004-12-15 EU FFII: Council Diplomats pave way for adoption of Software Patent Agreement
2004-12-15 US Yahoo PRNews: Pillsbury Winthrop Attorney Clarifies Latest Open Source Myths Following Government Guidance and Microsoft Posturing ("Demystifying common misconceptions about open source, patents and legal liability", -> Microsoft, Insurance)
2004-12-15 UK PCPro: British government backs software patents (-> DTI Meeting)
2004-12-15 US Slashdot: Options Markets Face Trading Patent Claims (Trading Technologies asks 2.5c for each transaction on the top future and options exchanges)
2004-12-15 UK ZDNet.co.uk: UK companies see perils in software patents ("In response to a further question from Todd on whether the UKPO had spoken to UK companies about this issue, Peter Hayward, a director at the UKPO, admitted that it hadn't." "We spoke to American companies," said Hayward.) (-> DTI Meeting)
2004-12-15 UK LinuxToday: UK Firms Support on EU Patent Proposal, Meets with Irked Developers (-> DTI Meeting)
2004-12-15 UK ZDNet.co.uk: Developers angry over software patent 'evasion' (-> DTI Meeting)
2004-12-15 UK ZDNet.co.uk: We need more penguin suits (-> DTI Meeting)
2004-12-14 SI FFII: Slovenian ICT Industry Association Against Software Patents
2004-12-15 EU MacWorld UK: EU software patent vote (-> Council Rush)
2004-12-15 UK VNUNet: Whitehall denies backing US-style software patents (-> DTI Meeting)
2004-12-15 UK Datamonitor Computerwire: UK Maintains Support for EU Patents Directive (-> DTI Meeting)
2004-12-15 UK The Register: RIM infringed NTP patents, appeal court rules
2004-12-01 ES Spanish parliament discussion
2004-07-24 EU Ellard (Commission) : Proposal for patent harmonisation moves forward
2004-12-14 UK UKPO: Government says "no" to US software patent model (-> DTI Meeting)
2004-11-30 US Web services: Squash "Patent Terrorism"
2004-12-14 UK VNUNet: Lord Sainsbury backs EU patent directive (-> DTI Meeting)
2004-12-14 UK The Register: the UK Patent Office pleads its case (UKPO: "Clarity will only come from the first test case in a European court") (-> DTI Meeting)
2004-12-14 WW News.com: Samsung, Sony cross-license their patents
2004-12-14 EU ZDNet.co.uk: Patent campaigners make government breakthrough (-> DTI Meeting)
2004-12-14 EU Techworld: EU patent vote may be sneaked through by Fisheries Council (-> Council rush)
2004-12-14 US Reuters: Software Should Not Be Copyrighted -- Lawsuit
2004-12-13 EU Heise: More Manoevering by EU Council Regarding Software Patents (-> Council rush)
2004-12-13 EU Slashdot: Software Patents Circumvent European Parliament (-> Council rush)
2004-12-13 EU ZDNet.co.uk: Patent directive faces fishy future (-> Council rush)
2004-12-13 EU FFII: Council Puts Adoption of Software Patent Directive on Schedule
2004-12-12 UK EIPR: A Practical Approach to the Problem of Open Source and Software Patents, by Mikko Valimaki (preprint version; also slides) (-> Shield)
2004-12-11 UK CBR: EU software patent decision delayed until new year
2004-12-10 CA ITWorld Canada: EU Software Patent vote appears delayed till 2005
2004-12-10 UK Computerweekly: Software Patent Directive Stalls
2004-12-09 US The Economist: Scholars for Dollars (conflicts in universitarian patenting)
2004-12-10 EU Codeliberty: It's Official!: No Majority For Council Proposal
2004-12-08 AT/EU Othmar Karas MEP: "Political agreement of May outdated"
2004-12-08 FI Lars Wirzenius: Personal life: No Nokia ("Before I joined Nokia I had formed an understanding that Nokia was using and would be using its patent portfolio defensively [..] the reality was quite horrible") (-> Nokia)
2004-12-09 US InternetNews.com: Google Magazine Search? (Guessing about Google's next business model, based on their latest patent applications)
2004-12-09 US IEEE Spectrum: Patent Prescription - A radical cure for the ailing U.S. patent system (Slashdot discussion)
2004-12-09 EU MacWorld/IDG: EU software patent vote appears delayed till 2005
2004-12-06 US Richard Stallman writes letter to the editor at lwn.net: Response to (Dr.) Collins' article ("People who use the term "intellectual property rights" are generally either trying to confuse you, or already confused themselves.")
2004-12-09 IL Globes: Research or die (calls for horse trade between rich and poor countries: fewer export restrictions on agricultural products in exchange for strong patent protection; calls upon the US to change business model to "sell patented knowledge")
2004-07-29 UK ComputerWeekly: Cash in on invention ("Don't bother patenting unless it's a Sikorsky helicopter" - UKPO)
2004-12-07 UK The Times: John Mitchell (AllVoice) - SMEs should patent in Germany, not UK (Difficulty of enforcement for !SMEs in the UK) (reg req'd)
2004-12-09 US ZDnet: 39 patents that will come back to haunt us (CommerceOne)
2004-12-09 EU iTnews.com.au: European Union's software patent issue is tabled
2004-12-08 EU NoSoftwarePatents.com: No Council decision in 2004, EP may restart (see also lwn.net: No European software patent vote this year with summary quote and in the discussion area words and links about 'Alan Cox "barred" from UK patents meeting')
2004-12-08 US ZDNet.com: Eolas, Microsoft make their case--again
2004-12-08 US CNET: Web services patents fetch $15.5 million by JGR Acquisitions
2004-12-08 EU EETimes: European Union delays consideration of software patents
2004-12-08 UK ZDNet.co.uk: Linux Kernel maintainer 'barred' from patents meeting (-> UK DTI Meeting 12/2004)
2004-12-08 EU Heise: EU Council postpones decision on software patents to 2005
2004-12-08 EU CNET: EU patent decision delayed till 05
2004-12-08 US Computer Weekly: Akamai accepts damages payment in patent suit for patent on Global Hosting System USPTO #6,108,703 (Patent details)
2004-12-02 BE IP Summit: I.R.I.S. prefers the reverse engineering risk to the patent litigation risk
2004-12-08 EU ZDNet.co.uk: EU patent decision postponed till 2005
2004-12-07 BE FFII: Belgium confirms abstention regarding Council text from May (and remarks that the common position will not be finalised under the Dutch presidency)
2004-12-07 US BizReport Network: Bankrupt Commerce One Patents Fetch $15.5M
2004-12-07 US Mondaq: United States: ROI: Proving the Value of Intellectual Asset Management
2004-12-07 UK ZDNet.co.uk: Public meeting on patents excludes anti-patent campaigners (-> UK DTI Meeting 12/2004)
2004-12-07 US Forbes: Another Small Firm Takes On Microsoft
2004-12-07 EU FFII: Formal approval of the directive delayed and transfered to the Luxembourg Presidency
2004-12-07 US ZDNet.co.uk: Mystery surrounds Web patents acquisition
2004-12-07 IN Sify: Veritas to invest $50m in India in 05 ("More than one-third of the software patents are from engineers in India, Leonard said")
2004-12-06 US Forbes/AP: Bankrupt Commerce One Patents Fetch $15.5M
2004-12-04 NL FFII: Speech of Ante Wessels (NL) in Bologna
2004-12-05 US PR Roaming Messenger Patent
2004-12-06 US SilliconValey.com: Auction of Web patents could be a royalty pain
2004-11-16 US Search Engine Watch: New Search Related Patents
2004-12-06 US Minneapolis Star Tribune: Finding gold in intellectual assets (attorneys that achieved the $1 billion ruling from Kodak against Sun recommend US companies to go on a patenting frenzy to obtain new revenue)
2004-12-03 US Forgent presents quarterly figures (-> Forgent, Jpeg)
2004-12-01 JP Computerworld: Sony to pay $40M to Ampex for the thumbnail patent (-> Ampex, Patents in Action)
2004-11-18 US Microsoft is working to sign broad cross-licensing deals with the top 30-50 companies (see page 2 of article, -> Microsoft)
2004-12-01 EU Commission's DG Infosoc agrees that Council text permits software patents, worried about Art 5(2)
2004-12-01 AT SP Austria Resolution Against Software Patents, Call for Renegotiation in Council
2004-12-02 DE Christian Democrats explain Motion: Parliamentarians Unanimously Against Council Agreement & Government's Role (-> Bundestag motion)
2004-12-04 EU The Inquirer: More letters in reaction to lawyer slamming Linus Torvalds (-> John Collins rebuttal)
2004-12-03 EU FFII: Council Presses Ahead with Software Patent Agreement, Publishes Multilingual Explanatory Document
2004-12-03 NL Innovation in the Netherlands: The Market Falters and the Government Fails (while not about software patents, it does explain why the Netherlands does it all wrong all the way: not the winners should be backed, but the challengers)
2004-11-30 DE FFII: Bundestag Unanimously Criticises Council Software Patent Agreement, Calls for Effective Limitation of Patentability
2004-11-29 US Network World: Do software users need indemnification? and Beware the patent collectors (-> Patent Insurance)
2004-12-02 EU EICTA does not respect copyright
2004-12-02 NL Brinkhorst on P4I: "Computer Programs are not patentable in Europe" (article has been removed, see also EICTA's breach of copyright)
2004-12-01 ES Spanish Government calls for Reversal of Council Software Patent Agreement
2004-12-02 CN China Daily: Cashing in on research boom ( Philips Shanghai R&D staff produce 3 patents per man year, CEO plans to transfer more top jobs to China)
2004-12-01 US Wi-Fi Planet: Nomadix Patents Hotspot Landing Pages (-> Patents in Action)
2004-12-01 EU The Inquirer: Letters: Patent lawyer patently wrong (-> John Collins rebuttal)