Minister locks horns with IT sector

Yup, much like BEE and AA make for a stronger country, removing the ability to actually make a living from creating ingenious software will save the country, and encourage more software to be created.

:rolleyes:
 
The reason for this is that if you patent something they (goverment) need, then they are in no position to subscribe BEE or any other bull**** apon you. They will have to pay you regardless if you have BEE partners etc.
 
Finally something I agree with a minister on. A shocking change.
 
Fraser-Moleketi was quoted saying: "Open standards are a critical factor in building interoperable systems that are important to governments …
"In South African we have a document - the minimum interoperability standards - which includes the use of open document format."
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I don't think she even understands what she read from her "prepared" speech :rolleyes:
 
I have to agree that software patents are very restrictive. The notion that the lack of a patent means an end to innovation is ludicrous. All patents do is create a monopoly on an idea and allow the patent owner to ride the wave without having to bother about improving the software.

If the best Microsoft's mountain of patents can give us is Windows Vista, then they've just strangled their own arguments regarding innovation. All Microsoft's billions of dollars are not bringing us much in the way of innovation, at least not in the OS space.
 
I agree and I don't agree with the minister on this....

A large proportion of patents are completely useless, but if you develop some wonderful new technology you should be able to patent it and get some benefit from it for a few years at the very least.

I think the whole patents thing needs to be looked at properly, there has to be an incentive (monetary) for innovating.
 
Software patents are not necessary and they create a huge mess. Patents are simply not appropriate for software. I'm glad our government is opposed to allowing them.

Of course Microsoft is upset, this will prevent them getting into the patent extortion business in South Africa.

India is mentioned - the last news I read on this they had not made the smart move of not allowing software to patented.
 
Shouldn't that headline read "Minister locks horns with Microsoft"? :rolleyes:
 
ToxicBunny said:
I agree and I don't agree with the minister on this....

A large proportion of patents are completely useless, but if you develop some wonderful new technology you should be able to patent it and get some benefit from it for a few years at the very least.

I think the whole patents thing needs to be looked at properly, there has to be an incentive (monetary) for innovating.
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Software patents are not needed at all, let alone possible.

Is there even a piece of software you can think of that should be patented?
 
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stoke said:
Yup, much like BEE and AA make for a stronger country, removing the ability to actually make a living from creating ingenious software will save the country, and encourage more software to be created.

:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Please explain to me why this is the case. Shouldn't plain copyright suffice?
 
But Paulo Ferreira, the platform strategy manager at Microsoft South Africa, said: "There is no such thing as free software. Nobody develops software for charity."
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Looks like someone was auditioning for a govt. spokesperson position.
Perhaps he was just quoted out of context, can't find any mention in the actual Tectonic article.

Ferreira said that Microsoft was working with key industry partners, including open-source communities, to develop interoperable solutions that met customer needs.
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Right, by pushing that OOXML cruft, despite having ostensibly embraced ODF.

"Instead, we should focus our energies on delivering value-added services to the government, business and its citizens, using whatever existing technology and standards they have in place, thus meeting any specific needs they have to access and use information optimally."
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Damn, I can see Dilbert's pointy-haired boss delivering that monologue at a meeting while Wally is snoring into his coffee mug.
 
Wow, a minister that is actually talking sense...

It's not April 1st today, is it?
 
Wiehan said:
Please explain to me why this is the case. Shouldn't plain copyright suffice?
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Copyright on software is impossible to enforce.
But, a technique of doing something using software is enforceable as the evidence is on the outside.

i.e. A patent can be identified without running through lines of code.
 
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