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Patent lawyers

Revision as of 16:44, 1 October 2009 by Ciaran (talk | contribs) (External links: * 2009-09-26: [http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20090926131450794 The Arguments For Patents for Business Methods and Software-Implemented Inventions], by "IP attorneys)

For most patent lawyers specialised in software, the patentability of software ideas is essential for the existence of their jobs. Their input is very valuable because they are experts in the field, but their financial interest in the pro-software-patent side of the debate must be kept in mind.

Lord Justice Jacob said in his ruling on the 2006 UK case Aerotel v. Telco:

"If the encouragement of patenting and of patent litigation as industries in themselves were a purpose of the patent system, then the case for construing the [exclusion] categories narrowly (and indeed for removing them) is made out."

Support exceptionally high among patent lawyers

When the European Commission held its Consultation Paper on the Patentability of Computer-Implemented Inventions in 2000, 6% of replies were in favour of software patents, but among respondents who identified themselves as "IP professionals", that rate was 77%.

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