Jun 17, 2013

New Zealand gets rid of software patents

New Zealand's government eliminated software patents entirely in May, with lots of backing from the IT industry there.

IT industry backs software patent change - Business - NZ Herald News
The Government has announced a change to planned new patent rules today which has put an end to fears that computer software might be covered by new patent protection.

2 Comments

Joshua BowlingJun 17, 2013

I wonder how this has evolved in the time since May. Have it helped with the problems they thought it would? Is NZ a big enough player that it really matters?

Ruth DemuthJun 18, 2013

Who knows. Banning software patents outright is a pretty intense move. I mean...maybe some of them are OK? Or maybe they could have shorter terms or something. I liked Richard Stallman's idea about limiting their effects