Roberto Bonino
PDG d'Adance

The commoditization of Information Technology is creating pressure in favour of software patents. Since the knowledge captured by programs in terms of business processes is so easily duplicated, an IT innovation can provide a long term competitive advantage only if the associated software or algorithm is patentable. In absence of such protection the advantages created by IT easily and rapidly end up benefiting the whole industry. However this generates a larger overall benefit for society, and we must accept that competition in the knowledge society must be deployed at the strategic rather than the functional level.

Extending patents to software will protect large marketing investments rather than innovation and will become an impediment to small players in the market.

To quote a famous opponent to patents "As we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours; and this we should do freely and generously". Benjamin Franklin.