2004-09 PricewaterhouseCoopers: software patents a major threat to Europe
--> [ Studies | Studies (short) | Deutsche Bank 2004-06-22 | NL & Swpat | Patent News ]
The consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers points out the risks of allowing software patents in report to the Dutch EU Presidency.
According to PricewaterhouseCoopers, software patents are 'a particular threat to the European ICT Industry.' Quote from the report: 'There are particular threats to the European ICT industry such as the current discussion on the patent on software. The mild regime of IP protection in the past has led to a very innovative and competitive software industry with low entry barriers. A software patent, which serves to protect inventions of a non-technical nature, could kill the high innovation rate.' The full report (pdf) discusses Europe's ICT strategy.
Source and Salient Quotes
Report on the website of the Dutch Ministry of Economics (Dutch text pointing to English PDF to which we can not link directly because the links to it are session-based, see item 342 on page 50)
Media Echo
2004-09-23 US Slashdot Discussion
2004-09-14 UK TheRegister: PwC identifies software patents as a threat to Europe
