Software will not be patentable in New Zealand • Hacker News Board

Re: Software will not be patentable in New Zealand

#21

Post by koalaman » Thu, May 09, 2013, 3:46 AM UTC

spodek wrote: post #3

"Commerce Minister Craig Foss said today that following industry consultation he had decided to remove the patentability of software from the Patents Bill, which is currently before Parliament." If anyone is going to support Free and Open Source Software, it's going to be a guy named Foss. The government asked its citizens their thoughts "a recent poll of more than 1000 Kiwi IT professionals found 94 per cent wanted…

"The U.S. is in software patents so deep, the only way I can see it changing is watching other countries move faster without the drain on innovation and the need to pay lawyers when you code."

Lawyers have a lot of money. Those laws aren't going to change until the role of money in politics changes. I wouldn't hold my breath.

Re: Software will not be patentable in New Zealand

#22

Post by jamiepenney » Thu, May 09, 2013, 3:47 AM UTC

lancewiggs wrote: post #14

te_chris wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[partisan alert] I wouldn't go too far on that. If you're poor and unemployed here you probably don't feel like the govt. are working for you all that much.

I'm continuously amazed by all of the major political parties here in New Zealand who keep using logic and facts instead of merely political stances. Our process of making laws is open, listens to the people as well as lobbyists, and yet allows room for policy differences.

Except for the "we made a mistake, now we are retrofitting the law so that we did not make a mistake" laws that have been passed over the last few years. The Search and Surveillance Bill, as well as the upcoming changes to the GCSB spring to mind.

At least these are just the government covering it's own ass, rather than out and out corruption.

Re: Software will not be patentable in New Zealand

#23

Post by sitharus » Thu, May 09, 2013, 3:48 AM UTC

Neepy wrote: post #18

marssaxman wrote: post #8

New Zealand seems like such a sensible place.

http://3strikes.net.nz/information/law-basics :\

That's a nasty one, but such an easy law to avoid. Use direct downloads or download movies, since the movie companies are protesting paying costs by not filing complaints.

I'd rather it didn't exist though.

Re: Software will not be patentable in New Zealand

#24

Post by knackers » Thu, May 09, 2013, 3:49 AM UTC

It will be interesting to see what the practical effect of this is over the long term. The new SOP says that certain processes involving software will still be patentable, which seems remarkably similar to the Supreme Court's finding in Diehr.

Re: Software will not be patentable in New Zealand

#25

Post by meric » Thu, May 09, 2013, 3:56 AM UTC

sitharus wrote: post #23

Neepy wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

http://3strikes.net.nz/information/law-basics :\

That's a nasty one, but such an easy law to avoid. Use direct downloads or download movies, since the movie companies are protesting paying costs by not filing complaints. I'd rather it didn't exist though.

Even in its nastiness it is sensible in its own right - $25 cost for the copyright holder to send a notice. The notice can also be challenged by the accused infringer.

Re: Software will not be patentable in New Zealand

#26

Post by holloway » Thu, May 09, 2013, 3:58 AM UTC

SeanDav wrote: post #17

lancewiggs wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm continuously amazed by all of the major political parties here in New Zealand who keep using logic and facts instead of merely political stances. Our process of making laws is open, listens to the people as well as lobbyists, and yet allows room for policy differences.

NZ makes some great laws (this is one of them) but it makes a few dodgy ones as well - like trying to give Chimpanzees human rights. Sorry I brought that one up but is one of those laws that has always just made me say - "What the fuuuuuc....."

Great Ape personhood, or at least granting them the right to not have cruel tests done, has been done by several other nations not just New Zealand: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_ape_personhood

I can't remember the exact wording but one provision was about how they couldn't be exported unless it was in their best interests. E.g. you can't sell them a circus overseas in which they would likely receive cruel treatment.

So it's not about calling them people, it's about giving them some rights because they have sentience.

Re: Software will not be patentable in New Zealand

#27

Post by ekianjo » Thu, May 09, 2013, 4:11 AM UTC

SeanDav wrote: post #17

lancewiggs wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm continuously amazed by all of the major political parties here in New Zealand who keep using logic and facts instead of merely political stances. Our process of making laws is open, listens to the people as well as lobbyists, and yet allows room for policy differences.

NZ makes some great laws (this is one of them) but it makes a few dodgy ones as well - like trying to give Chimpanzees human rights. Sorry I brought that one up but is one of those laws that has always just made me say - "What the fuuuuuc....."

Sure, we all know since Descartes that animals are robot-like objects, have no feelings and no emotion and should be treated as such. So, let's make sure the Law does not take in account any of the discoveries related to emotion and pain in animals, and let's keep business as usual and feel good about it.

Sums up your position ?

Re: Software will not be patentable in New Zealand

#28

Post by randall » Thu, May 09, 2013, 4:12 AM UTC

acabal wrote: post #7

What does this mean for software companies in New Zealand? If they sell software in the US (and who doesn't, with the internet and all), I assume they're still on the hook for US patent law?

I'd like to know that too. I mean Xero has offices in the US certainly, so they'd be able to be served and the sort, but what about NZ exclusive shops?

Re: Software will not be patentable in New Zealand

#29

Post by ekianjo » Thu, May 09, 2013, 4:15 AM UTC

te_chris wrote: post #10

sage_joch wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This sounds suspiciously like a government that works for its people.

[partisan alert] I wouldn't go too far on that. If you're poor and unemployed here you probably don't feel like the govt. are working for you all that much.

Welfare-society-partisan I guess? The best thing a government can do is not run into debt and avoid charging massive taxes to employees and companies working in their country. That way, business can thrive better and jobs get created in larger number, so it should be a good thing if you are poor and unemployed.

Countries ridden with welfare are not doing TOO well currently. Most countries in Europe, US, Japan. All deep to their neck in public debt, always at the verge of bankruptcy. This can't be good for anyone in the end, poor included.

Re: Software will not be patentable in New Zealand

#30

Post by polemic » Thu, May 09, 2013, 4:27 AM UTC

zem wrote: post #13

spodek wrote: post #3

"Commerce Minister Craig Foss said today that following industry consultation he had decided to remove the patentability of software from the Patents Bill, which is currently before Parliament." If anyone is going to support Free and Open Source Software, it's going to be a guy named Foss. The government asked its citizens their thoughts "a recent poll of more than 1000 Kiwi IT professionals found 94 per cent wanted…

there's even a term for it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nominative_determinism

Naw.. if you've got a 3 or 4 letter last name and you work in/on/around I.T. you're going to run into an acronym that happens to be your name at some point.