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From: tim@ggumby.cs.caltech.edu (Timothy L. Kay)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.programmer
Subject: Re: Are Software Patents KILLING Innovation
Message-ID: <tim.655860075@ggumby>
Date: 13 Oct 90 23:21:15 GMT
References: <40579@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU>
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dtw@acsu.buffalo.edu (daniel t wesolowski) writes:


>Hello fellow programers,

>     If you create software/programs for use other than your personal
>use, I strongly urge you to read the article "Software Patents" in the
>Dr. Dobb's Journal (November 1990). While my posting does not even come
>close to all the information contained in the article, here are some
>quotes from the article.

> [quotations deleted]

>      Could I be wrong, or is it time for us programmers and others to band
>together and nip this patent garbage in the butt now! 

I agree.  Programmers should band together.  The League for Programming
Freedom is an organization which was formed to oppose the concept of
Look-and-Feel copyrighting.  They have also recently taken on the task
of opposing the concept of software patenting.  They are lobbying congress,
working with the Office of Technology Assessment, and also picketing the
likes of Lotus.

Dues are something like $11/year for students and $42/year for
professionals.  There is an in-between category for computer
users who don't fit the other two categories.

If you'd like more information, contact league@prep.ai.mit.edu.

Tim