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thales	airliquide

Air Liquide and Software Patents

Air Liquide, a french chemical industry giant, has only recently applied for less than a handful of software patents (2 as of 2003) in Europe. Yet their chief patent strategist, Thierry Sueur, has been one of the most active promoters of software patentability in Europe. Sueur appeared at various conferences as "Mr. The Industry", insisting that "the Industry" absolutely needs patents, and of course also software patents, in order to be innovative. Sueur previously worked in IBM's patent department. Under his guidance, Air Liquide is trying to secure itself advantages by applying for organisation rules such as gas bottle labelling techniques. If such patents become valid in Europe, they may help Sueur to quickly build a large patent portfolio, thus giving Air Liquide an edge over more old-fashioned chemical companies who believe that patents must be obtained by hard laboratory work. Nevertheless Air Liquide will be among the losers, because most of the relevant software patents which can be used to extract money from chemical companies are not and will not soon be in the hands of chemical companies.

http://swpat.ffii.de/gasnu/airliquide/index.en.html
© 2005/01/06 (2004/08/24) Workgroup
english version 2004/08/16 by Hartmut PILCH