The Great Software Patents Debate

Feynmanfan

The University of Auckland IEEE Student Branch is proud to present the public Software Patents Debate on Friday 15th of October. If you're a programmer, this debate is for you. It will debate the issue of whether or not software should be patentable. It's important to come to this debate because the Patents Bill reform currently before Parliament. It affects everyone, from budding programmers to large multinational companies (think Microsoft).

The moot will be: "This house should disallow software patents in New Zealand".

For the affirmative we have:
Peter Harrison - Vice-President of New Zealand Open Source Society (NZOSS).
Igor Portugal - CEO of Vadacom.
Ben Milsom - The University of Auckland Debating Society.

For the Negative we have:
Duncan Schaut - Associate of Baldwins Intellectual Property.
Mitchell Cooper - The University of Auckland Debating Society.

Date: Friday, 15th of October.
Time: 7pm to 8:30pm.
Venue: The University of Auckland, School of Engineering, Eng1439/401-439 (by the Neon Foyer).
Notes: This is a public debate, it's open to everyone.

Come along and see patent lawyers and open source advocates tangle in meatspace for the first time. Watch in awe as they skilfully dispatch their foes with silver tongues. This is an event you just can't miss!