ESP Wiki is looking for moderators and active contributors!
Difference between revisions of "Harms to education"
(==In-house software and free software== A survey by European Schoolnet found that two thirds of schools use virtual learning environments that are either developed in-house or are free software.) |
(→In-house software and free software: ==Costs and choice== Patents, according to the European Schoolnet study, would [[Blocks competing software, reducing choice|narrow the choice of software on) |
||
Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
A survey by European Schoolnet found that two thirds of schools use virtual learning environments that are either developed in-house or are [[free software]].<ref>http://www-old.eun.org/insight-pdf/special_reports/e_learning_softpat.pdf</ref> Adding patent risks to bodies that develop or modify software thus creates risks for the majority of schools. | A survey by European Schoolnet found that two thirds of schools use virtual learning environments that are either developed in-house or are [[free software]].<ref>http://www-old.eun.org/insight-pdf/special_reports/e_learning_softpat.pdf</ref> Adding patent risks to bodies that develop or modify software thus creates risks for the majority of schools. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Costs and choice== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Patents, according to the European Schoolnet study, would [[Blocks competing software, reducing choice|narrow the choice of software on offer]] and increase the [[costs passed on to buyers of software]]. | ||
==Related pages on {{SITENAME}}== | ==Related pages on {{SITENAME}}== |
Revision as of 12:50, 12 December 2010
Patents on software harm education at all levels. Software patents create legal costs and risks for computer learners who study the software they use, and they introduce uncertainty regarding the use of the skills learned in higher education.
Contents
In-house software and free software
A survey by European Schoolnet found that two thirds of schools use virtual learning environments that are either developed in-house or are free software.[1] Adding patent risks to bodies that develop or modify software thus creates risks for the majority of schools.
Costs and choice
Patents, according to the European Schoolnet study, would narrow the choice of software on offer and increase the costs passed on to buyers of software.
Related pages on ESP Wiki
- Freedom of expression
- Blocking innovation and research
- Jobs and skills - which also deals with the problem of learned skills being unusable
- Blackboard inc. - a company which has used software patents against education projects
External links
- Discussion paper by European Schoolnet / Insight, December 2004
- BBC: Patent battle over teaching tools, August 2006 regarding Blackboard inc.