Hungary and Software Patents
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News & Chronology
2004-08-28 or 31 The government's advisory group on "intellectual property" will have a meeting to discuss about a possible withdrawal of support of the EU Council Political Agreement
2004-08-24 16:00 400 demonstrate in front of the Foreign Ministry, demand Hungarian No to Council Agreement
2004-05-18 Hungarian delegate Gottfried Peter gives pro-patent speech in Council, presumably votes YES -- later explains that prime minister's instructions weren't received (broken fax machine?). In following debates, HU government made a press statement confirming support, used the fake limits inserted into Art 4A at the Council session to justify the decision.
- 2004-05-1x prime minister promises vote against Council position. More exactly: the ministry of prime minister have communicated its position to the ministry of foreign affairs. According to the applicable rules, hungary should have voted no.
Project
hu-parl at ffii org mailing list (discussion mostly in Hungarian)
Background
- 2004-09-23 Mr. Barandy, the Justice Minister stepped down; he appointed Mr. Ficsor when he took office.
- Patent Office president Ficsor leads the government's advisory group on "intellectual property"
- Patent Office is responsible for formulating hungarian opinion on all "Intellectual Property" questions
Ficsor group follows and defends EPO line
- IT ministry doesn't like the EPO/Council line
- Foreign ministry also influential, interested mostly in avoiding conflicts with other governments
- All or most of the representation of Hungary in the Council is done by Dr. Gottfried Péter
- At some international meetings, Hungarian diplomats show themselves critical of US+EU patent extremism that is being pushed on them and not good for their economy. The patent movement has a weaker basis than in UK and DE, but no shortage of ardent believers who preach that HU will eventually win the "strong IP" game if it takes the winner's approach now. Others want to avoid being seen as a developping country with "lower IP standards". Membership in EPO gives HU patent movement a sense of superiority in dealing with their government.
- All Hungarian IT associations have issued statements against software patents
- Free software very strong in HU, city of Szeged built its administration on it.
