In a global market, how much does it really count that one country does this? If you are going to distribute your stuff anywhere outside of New Zealand you will have to deal with things like the insane american patent system for instance.
jarledb: In a global market, how much does it really count that one country does this? If you are going to distribute your stuff anywhere outside of New Zealand you will have to deal with things like the insane american patent system for instance.
Resisting the import of corrupt American policy is always worthwhile imo.
On the contrary, this change IS consistent with the patentability ideology in the UK and Europe. Here is a good article on what the recent SOP means in practical terms.
The United States will always do their own thing (case in point: they still use inches!) that does not mean we should despair at the positive change in the rest of world.
This is a very good law change. 80% of New Zealand software industry support the measure. Software patents don't help software innovation a single bit, the only role patents play in software industry is stifle innovation.
The problem with patents for software businesses is that they are expensive to register and unaffordable to enforce. So even if you have enough money to register a patent, you have to be Apple to enforce it and even Apple with their billions in the bank are struggling.
Patents are a monopoly right granted to you by a government and are only enforceable in the land where the monopoly right is granted. So if your business strategy is to patent your software in a specific market - you do so in the market where the patent is enforceable. It will cost the same regardless of whether New Zealand subscribes to the madness or not.
This legislation does not stop people who want to obtain patents in American market. But it does grant freedom to operate to innovators who want to innovate and operate on New Zealand soil - that is a great thing!
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