The Economic Majority Against Software Patents

Opera Software: Patents hamper innovation and interoperability on the World Wide Web

The Norway-based developer of lightweight, fast and secure web browsing software used on many platforms, including mobile phones, with 210 employees, strongly opposes software patentability. In a statement of 3rd November 2002, Håkon Wium Lie, chief technology officer (CTO) of Opera Software, explains why software patents already are an obstacle to Opera's business. The message against software patentability is so important to Opera that they place it prominently on their website, under Opera's Vision:

Håkon Wium Lie
CTO of Opera Software

Opera Software does not believe innovation in the software industry is protected or encouraged by software patents. In particular, we believe interoperability on the Internet should be encouraged, and we actively work to ensure that software patents do not stand in the way of interoperability.

As a highly innovative company, Opera Software comes up with many ideas and concepts that are patentable. In some situations, we will apply for software patents as a way to protect ourselves from attacks by other aggressive patent holders.