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New Zealand bans some software patents

zdnet.com

41–50 of 230 posts

Re: New Zealand bans some software patents

#41
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you still getting paid by Oracle?

Is that relevant to the merits of his argument?

Since Mueller isn't a lawyer, and his only other credentials are being a paid lobbyist, yeah it matters. Sure a lobbyist might be correct, but why would you trust them for information to begin with?

And looking at his post with a sceptical mind would have you learn his only third party source is a magazine whose tag-line is "Maximising IP value for business".

Even if correct his post is blatant propaganda. In fact, I'd go so far as to question why he chose today to register an account on hacker news. This isn't the first patent related news we've seen.

Re: New Zealand bans some software patents

#43
post #10

The real test of this will be if software companies flood to New Zealand to tinker to their hearts content without fear of litigation... or if they flee NZ for fear of invalidating any patents they could have brought on their upcoming software. I'd like to be able to say it will be the former, but I bet corporate lawyers will be pushing for the latter (if only out of a sense of self-preservation).

If the product is created in NZ that uses technology patented in US for example, would it still be legal for them to do business in US, like offering services?

Technically, it's import could be banned, but this only matters if you're Samsung.

Practically speaking I doubt the typical east Texas troll even has a clue what kind of shakedown letter to send abroad.

Re: New Zealand bans some software patents

#44
post #41
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is that relevant to the merits of his argument?

Since Mueller isn't a lawyer, and his only other credentials are being a paid lobbyist, yeah it matters. Sure a lobbyist might be correct, but why would you trust them for information to begin with? And looking at his post with a sceptical mind would have you learn his only third party source is a magazine whose tag-line is "Maximising IP value for business". Even if correct his post is blatant propaganda. In fact, I…

>In fact, I'd go so far as to question why he chose today to register an account on hacker news.

He has actually commented here with a different account in the past: https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=FlorianMueller

Your personal attacks really don't have any relevance to the legal questions at hand. Trying to muddy the discussion with irrelevant speculation about people's motives is totally unnecessary when the legislation is there for any of us to read.

Re: New Zealand bans some software patents

#46
post #36

Good news. NZ is already in the top-5 economically free countries while still maintaining a respectable social safety. And a couple SaaS heavyweights. Plus, no snakes. http://www.heritage.org/index/ranking

The top 2 free-est counties on that list are run by generally benevolent but completely autocratic governments.

That is simply not true. While clearly not democratic, Hong Kong for example, is most definitely not an autocracy.

Re: New Zealand bans some software patents

#47
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you still getting paid by Oracle?

Is that relevant to the merits of his argument?

Let's cut to the chase.

No-one has time to become an expert on absolutely everything. To some extent, we have to choose who to listen to, and then trust that they are speaking true. Anything else is completely unmanageable. So your argument, while logically correct, is not applicable. In the real world, we don't take the sex offender's word that our child is safe on its pure merits.

When someone with a long and vivid history of acting against the interests of the community speaks, it is on them to overcome the prejudice against them, not on us.

Re: New Zealand bans some software patents

#48
post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since Mueller isn't a lawyer, and his only other credentials are being a paid lobbyist, yeah it matters. Sure a lobbyist might be correct, but why would you trust them for information to begin with? And looking at his post with a sceptical mind would have you learn his only third party source is a magazine whose tag-line is "Maximising IP value for business". Even if correct his post is blatant propaganda. In fact, I…

>In fact, I'd go so far as to question why he chose today to register an account on hacker news. He has actually commented here with a different account in the past: https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=FlorianMueller Your personal attacks really don't have any relevance to the legal questions at hand. Trying to muddy the discussion with irrelevant speculation about people's motives is totally unnecessary when the le…

> Trying to muddy the discussion with irrelevant speculation about people's motives is totally unnecessary

In an ideal world, where we all had an infinite amount of time to research any and all items of controversy in their entirity, I would agree with you.

In this hyper-specialized world, where we basically look to others to do the research and summarize for us, motives are extremely relevant and it is the height of naivety to pretend otherwise.

Re: New Zealand bans some software patents

#49

As Orwell wrote, "the English language ... becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts." Considering that patents are entirely a government creation, "ban" or "outlaw" does not apply, for such language treats patents as something apart from the state. Perhaps "stops issuing" would be more accurate, but it's not clea…

[deleted]

Re: New Zealand bans some software patents

#50
If an idea is truly novel and valuable to the marketplace no patent is needed because the novelty itself provides ample time for you to 'recover' your investment.

Either no patents or very short patents[<=12 months for anything] is a basic requirement for a progressive society.

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