If you're not making the software that you yourself use, you probably want it to be free.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Software_companies_of_...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Software_companies_of_...
Software will not be patentable in New Zealand
31–40 of 128 posts
Re: Software will not be patentable in New Zealand
#32Earlier 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.
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 de…
Australia is "ridden" with welfare and we're doing just fine economically, thanks.
We also get to walk around our cities without constant fear of violent robbery by the extreme poor. Nice huh?
Re: Software will not be patentable in New Zealand
#33Earlier 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.
Our process of making laws mostly listens to the people, but it it is contingent on the government's willingness to listen. The problem is the lack of rules around urgency (http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/parliaments-urgency-provision-b...). For non-Kiwis, urgency allows a government to force through a bill in a hurry and without consultation. The loophole is that urgency doesn't require a supermajority and there are no limits on the kind of bills that can be passed this way: if the government decides to bypass the normal legislative process, there's not much anyone can do to stop it.
The result is that governments have used urgency as a way to pass major and controversial laws without full consultation or debate. Examples include 'three strikes' (http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/new-zealands-3-strik.html), the 'Hobbit Act' (http://www.3news.co.nz/Hobbit-bill-becomes-law/tabid/419/art...) and the GCSB (spy) bill (http://parliamenttoday.co.nz/2013/05/house-goes-into-urgency...). Whether you agree or disagree on the merits of the bills, I do think it's fair to say that all deserved more debate and consultation than they got.
And I'd argue that all of these examples were driven by lobbying (from the media industry, the Hobbit producers and the espionage agencies). Our process of making laws is generally healthy and open, but it does have dangerous blind spots.
Re: Software will not be patentable in New Zealand
#34"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…
>I wonder the motivations
of the last 6%
People in corporate take pride in IP. The number of patents a team has applied for is a measure of its success.
As a proponent of foss, I believe software patents hinder development, because it makes the work I do difficult.
But people working in 'corporate' IT see it as a reward for their work.
I am sure many of them celebrated the recent World IP day and made plans to apply for more patents.
Re: Software will not be patentable in New Zealand
#35Earlier quoted context omitted.
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 de…
Australia is "ridden" with welfare and we're doing just fine economically, thanks. We also get to walk around our cities without constant fear of violent robbery by the extreme poor. Nice huh?
Yeah, lets not forget the huge advantage of natural resources in Australia. Just like Russia can survive on its gaz business alone.
ANd thanks for the cliche that poor = robber/criminal, I am sure many honest poor people appreciate your point of view.
Re: Software will not be patentable in New Zealand
#36"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…
[deleted]
Re: Software will not be patentable in New Zealand
#37What 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?
Yes, that jurisdiction's law applies, although NZ companies can apply for US patents too. Further, I would presume that web software hosted outside the US could avoid having the server component covered by the US jurisdiction. It could be just patents on client-side tech.
Re: Software will not be patentable in New Zealand
#38[deleted]
Re: Software will not be patentable in New Zealand
#39This will set a good precedent for other developed countries. Let's hope Australia goes next, and maybe Scandinavia.
Re: Software will not be patentable in New Zealand
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
Australia is "ridden" with welfare and we're doing just fine economically, thanks. We also get to walk around our cities without constant fear of violent robbery by the extreme poor. Nice huh?
Yeah, lets not forget the huge advantage of natural resources in Australia. Just like Russia can survive on its gaz business alone. ANd thanks for the cliche that poor = robber/criminal, I am sure many honest poor people appreciate your point of view.
Ok, then what would be your response to Canada?