[Fsf-friends] Patents (Amendments) Bill, 2005, passed in the Parliament

[Ramanraj K]

The  Patents (Amendments)  Bill was  passed in  the  Parliament, after
dropping  clauses  3(k)  and  3(ka)  relating  to  computer  programs,
restoring the  status quo.  Computer programs are  outside the purview
of patentability.

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=8096

<quote>
It  is proposed  to omit  the clarification  relating to  patenting of
software  related inventions  introduced by  the Ordinance  as Section
3(k) and 3 (ka). The clarification  was objected to on the ground that
this may give rise to monopoly of multinationals.
</quote>

FSF  India lead an  active campaign  against the  Patents (Amendments)
Ordinance that  introduced patentability for  embedded software, under
the leadership  of Richard Stallman, Nagarjuna, Arun  and others here.
Holger Blasum, Christian  Beauprez, and others at ffii.org  made a big
difference in strengthening the campaign.

It was  finally the Left  that saved the  day! Our thanks are  due the
Members  of Parliament  for restoring  the  status quo  in respect  of
computer programs.