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Difference between revisions of "Banning software patents"
(There are advantages in focusing only on software.) |
(- declare that use and distribution of software can never constitute infringement) |
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There are two ways to write a law that would protect software developers, users, and distributors from patents: | There are two ways to write a law that would protect software developers, users, and distributors from patents: | ||
| − | * '''[[Excluding software from patentability]]''' | + | * '''[[Excluding software from patentability]]''' - exclude software from the [[patentable subject matter|subject matter]] that can be patented |
| − | * [[Shielding software from litigation]] | + | * [[Shielding software from litigation]] - declare that use and distribution of software can never constitute infringement |
The latter is an alternative, suggested in 2012 by [[Richard Stallman]]. A third way would be to [[Harm caused by all types of patents|abolish the entire patent system]], for all domains, but this would require many times more work and there's no consensus on whether it's a good idea. There are advantages in [[Why focus only on software|focusing only on software]]. | The latter is an alternative, suggested in 2012 by [[Richard Stallman]]. A third way would be to [[Harm caused by all types of patents|abolish the entire patent system]], for all domains, but this would require many times more work and there's no consensus on whether it's a good idea. There are advantages in [[Why focus only on software|focusing only on software]]. | ||
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For advice about terminology, see: | For advice about terminology, see: | ||
Revision as of 17:31, 1 September 2013
There are two ways to write a law that would protect software developers, users, and distributors from patents:
- Excluding software from patentability - exclude software from the subject matter that can be patented
- Shielding software from litigation - declare that use and distribution of software can never constitute infringement
The latter is an alternative, suggested in 2012 by Richard Stallman. A third way would be to abolish the entire patent system, for all domains, but this would require many times more work and there's no consensus on whether it's a good idea. There are advantages in focusing only on software.
For advice about terminology, see:
