Freedom to Innovate
Submitted by singpolyma 2010–05–26 12:16:21 EDT
Theme(s): Building Digital Skills, Innovation Using Digital Technologies
Summary
Digital innovation, like all innovation, is based on first learning about how the technology that came before it works. Digital locks and other such restrictions on reverse–engineering reduce or eliminate students' and others' ability to study existing technology slow the pace of innovation dangerously. Measures should be taken to protect the citizenry from such restrictions.
Innovation also relies on being free to build something without fear of lawsuit. If an innovator is afraid of the cost of a lawsuit (even one he will win), then innovation will be stifled because many innovators do not have the resources to fight legal battles. Over–reaching patents limit innovation by required extensive due diligence before an invention may be pursued. Especially in the case of software patents, which can too easily be granted on algorithms that another innovator may independently invent as a part of a larger system.
Submission
Digital innovation is being threatened by over–extending patents, digital locks, and other restrictions on reverse–engineering. To protect the future of innovation in Canada, citizens' innovation needs to be protected from these threats.
