Recently, there has been much discussion about software patents and calls for reform to the system. Now, one country—New Zealand—has passed a bill that eliminates software patents altogether.
The country’s Commerce Minister Craig Foss (yes, fans of free and open source software, that is his real name) said, “The patents system doesn’t work for software because it is almost impossible for genuine technology companies to create new software without breaching some of the hundreds of thousands of software patents that exist, often for very obvious work.” He continued, “Today’s historic legislation will support our innovative technology industry, and sends a clear message to the rest of the world that New Zealand won’t tolerate the vexatious practice of ‘patent trolls.'”
