9 May 2013

Dunne: Patents Bill changes a win-win

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne has welcomed the agreement reached between the New Zealand software industry and the Government on the wording of an amendment to the Patents Bill that will ensure computer software will remain as open source and not subject, of itself, to being patented.

“UnitedFuture had made it clear that it would not support the provisions of the Bill with regard to embedded software as they stood, and that the amendment proposed by Labour MP Claire Curran would seriously compromise and infringe a number of New Zealand’s trade agreements,” Mr Dunne said.

“For those reasons, given that the Bill’s fate most likely hinged on UnitedFuture’s vote, we encouraged Minister Foss and his officials to resume negotiations with the NZ Institute of Software Professionals to develop a more acceptable provision.

“I am delighted they have now reached a common-sense position on this issue, which UnitedFuture will now be happy to support.

“This now means that the updating of New Zealand’s outdated patent laws can proceed, without disadvantage to the local software industry, and is another good example of how effectively UnitedFuture uses its casting vote influence,” he said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media