Firms Observe Anti-Software Patent Day

September 25, 2008

Little did I know that Wednesday was the World Day Against Software Patents, an occasion spearheaded by a coalition of more than 80 software companies, associations and developers in response to the European Parliament's revisions to patent law aimed at protecting small firms from questionable software patents. A global petition aimed at effectively ending software patents worldwide was launched on the same day.

"This is the best solution for getting rid of 'patent trolls' and uncontrollable legal risks generated by software patents," StopSoftwarePatents coalition creator Benjamin Henrion said in a press release. "The day the software industry forms a clear front against software patents will be the beginning of the end for the 'patent trolls'."

Some of the entities involved in the effort include OpenFirms, a consulting company for healthcare organizations in India; Nightlabs, a professional supplier of ticketing solutions based in Freiburg, Germany; and iMatix Corp., which provides messaging solutions for financial markets. Read more about the initiative here. Speaking of patents, catch up on the latest movement on Capitol Hill from CongressDaily's AM edition.

Juliana Gruenwald

Tech Writer

E-Mail: jgruenwald@nationaljournal.com.

Juliana Gruenwald has been covering tech and telecom issues for more than a decade for National Journal, Interactive Week, BNA and Congressional Quarterly. This is her second stint with National Journal. She was recruited by NJ in 1998 to help launch its first tech policy publication, Technology Daily. She left in 2000 to cover international tech and telecom issues for Ziff Davis Media's Interactive Week magazine. She started her career at United Press International as the wire service's first Helen Thomas Intern. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota. A Minneapolis native, she misses the lakes but not the cold.

Josh Smith

Tech Reporter

E-Mail: joshsmith@nationaljournal.com.

Josh Smith covers technology policy as a staff reporter for National Journal. He previously interned at National Journal Daily, a Senate press office, and the Deseret News in Salt Lake City where he covered the state legislature, courts, and crime. In 2009 he graduated with honors from Southern Utah University after managing an award-winning student newspaper as editor-in-chief. Josh has received state, regional and national awards for his political and policy reporting, including first place in CapitolBeat’s 2009 Best of Statehouse Reporting college competition. A native of drop-dead-gorgeous Utah, Josh lives in Virginia with his wife, Amber.

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