Eur Ing Christopher Thoday

Rugby

Software Engineer

The Patent Act 1977 enshrined my right as a software engineer to practice my profession unrestricted by patents. I can see no justification for the EU directive which has the potential to seriously damage the British economy as well as denying my human rights to earn my living writing computer software.

It is patently absurd to suggest that there is any shortage of ideas or innovation in the computer software industry that would justfy introducing this restrictive practice. I fail to see how handing monopoly powers to large corporations (who alone can afford to play the patent game) can possibly be said to be in the public interest.

How can it possibly be right to make public policy in this way? Do we or do we not live in a democracy?