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Blocking innovation and research
Software patents stiffle innovation.
Contents
Software innovation happens without patents
Free software such as the GNU/Linux operating system were developed without patents. Free software includes a lot of innovation, so software innovation clearly doesn't depend on patents. Not only does software innovation happens without patents, but it actually happens better without patents.
Studies
- An Empirical Look at Software Patents "...We find evidence that software patents substitute for R&D at the firm level; they are associated with lower R&D intensity..."
- The EuroLinux petition - 400,000 signatures against the harm of software patents to innovation and competition
Interest groups
BEUC
European consumer representaive group.
- Press Release on the rejection of the EU software patents directive ("...BEUC believes that any attempt to patent software as such would stifle innovation ... less competition and less innovation, and European consumers would bear the costs...")
- Comments 2004
