A step forward for software innovation
Labour Communications and IT spokesperson Clare Curran has welcomed Commerce Minister Simon Power’s decision to develop guidelines to exclude computer software from being patentable.
“I want to congratulate the Minister for keeping his word and supporting the Commerce Select Committee’s recommendation to remove the patentability of software,” Clare Curran said.
“Many innovative Kiwi software development firms would have faced real challenges to develop new software if patents were enforceable.
“Simon Power’s support of the Select Committee recommendation that the Intellectual Property Office develop guidelines for inventions that involves ‘embedded software, software that is built into a physical device, is a reasonable solution which will promote innovation in one of New Zealand’s emerging industries.”
Labour Commerce spokesperson and Commerce Select Committee chairperson Lianne Dalziel said despite the last minute lobbying against the exclusion, the Minister's announcement today has upheld the integrity of the select committee process.
“Copyright is the appropriate form of intellectual property protection for software which like books, movies or music is based on an original concept rather than a novel invention,” Lianne Dalziel said.
“The Commerce Select Committee recommendation came after receiving many submissions on the issue. The Committee heard all the arguments about the potential benefits and fishhooks of patenting software.
“I am pleased the Minister has personally considered and understood the issues. This is a step forward for innovation,” Lianne Dalziel said.
