[1] Seemingly no source code available for AVS2 decoders, dubious claims of beating HEVC without independent tests, and China history of "independent" development by copy&paste notwithstanding
I would say that in this case, that's a reasonable decision.
If a physicist can't patent superconductivity (you can't patent discoveries and laws of nature), should it be possible to patent compression algorithms? The case for patents in software, as additional protection on top on copyright, is not clear to me.
Frankly neither copyright nor the patent law is actually suitable for software. Software deserves a tailor-made IP law that actually recognises the difference between compiled code and source code, the rights of the consumer to modify his device and keep it updated, etc. There should be an escrow-type system, where protection is granted if code is hosted in a public repository, and is made public after 20 years or so.
All executable should be treated in a standard way, and there should be no EULA outside of enterprise systems. A consumer person does not need to read EULA when they buy a book or a car, why should they do so when they buy a PC?
Until this happens, I feel developing nations shouldn't even recognise software patents - copyright is protection enough.
> should it be possible to patent compression algorithms?
I would say yes, at least for lossy compression, where the challenge is not about shuffling bits but finding semi-artistic graphical approximations of common video patterns.
I also approve of an industry-wide effort to patent-unencumbered solutions.
If a physicist can't patent superconductivity (you can't patent discoveries and laws of nature), should it be possible to patent compression algorithms? The case for patents in software, as additional protection on top on copyright, is not clear to me.
Frankly neither copyright nor the patent law is actually suitable for software. Software deserves a tailor-made IP law that actually recognises the difference between compiled code and source code, the rights of the consumer to modify his device and keep it updated, etc. There should be an escrow-type system, where protection is granted if code is hosted in a public repository, and is made public after 20 years or so.
All executable should be treated in a standard way, and there should be no EULA outside of enterprise systems. A consumer person does not need to read EULA when they buy a book or a car, why should they do so when they buy a PC?
Until this happens, I feel developing nations shouldn't even recognise software patents - copyright is protection enough.