Another month, another petition. So what do you think about this
I, the undersigned, support this statement
The European patent system discriminates against:
- The Public, by letting those who benefit from the patent system set the rules for everyone.
- Real innovators, by granting patents too easily and in areas where patents are not needed.
- Fast-moving industries, by pretending that one size fits all.
- The free market, by granting overbroad monopolies that lock out innovation and competition.
- Smaller businesses, by creating risks and costs that small firms cannot afford.
- Open research, in software, medicine, and more, by blocking the free flow of ideas and knowledge.
This discrimination is unfair, and it is costly. We all pay for it, with higher prices, fewer jobs, and less freedom.
I call on the EU to build a new patent system on these principles:
- Fair to the public. It must be made by elected lawmakers of democratic European Union.
- Fair to innovators. It must allow patents only where needed to spur innovation.
- Fair to all industries. It must adapt to the fast-growing diversity of technology and business.
- Fair to a free market. It must ensure that patent monopolies are narrowly focused.
- Fair to small businesses. It must provide affordable, fast, narrow and predictable rights.
- Fair to open research. It must protect the independent creation of original works.
Well, I wholeheartedly agree that the current worldwide, not just EU, patent practices and laws are flawed. They are discriminatory, unfair, largely un-implementable in a sensible way but enforcible and prohibitive. There is no protection against misjudgement either.
Ok, I'll shut up for now. I don't have time, at the moment to substantiate my claims, so just take them at with a pinch of salt.
