Trust James Boyle to cut through the nonsense and provide an excellent picture of what is taking place with the calls for more protection for databases. The evidence is finally taking shape that more protection for databases in Europe has not been translated into more innovation. My favourite part of the column is when Boyle comments that those calling for more protection have profit margins that exceed 20%. Why do they need more protection?
I would only add that there is another experiment in protection between the United States and Europe. There is a distinct difference between the approach to software patents (at least for the time being), and while the U.S. is protecting software with as many patents as possible, Europe has no protection. One would expect that this would translate immediately in a collapse of the European software industry. This is not the case. On the contrary, the UK is fast becoming a hub for computer games programmers.
Down with this sort of thing!
0 Comments