Patents are a devious tool to harm developing countries' development. Not only will patents harm software; but will also lead to rise in prices of medicines. [Read further for more info]
What you can do ?
a) Post this on your blog/website too if you have one b) Email this to as many people as you know c) Email to the Editor of various magazines, newspapers that we don't want patents d) Email to the President of India and any political party in India who has an email
Why are patents bad ?
Below are some medicines whose cost are given as follows (In India in Rupees) [In US in Rupees] SYPROFLOCSACIN (29 Rupees) (2353 Rupees) DYCHLOPHYNAC (4 Rupees) [675 Rupees] These are just two examples. Wondering why medicines are SO cheap in India? This is because India had a big pharmaceutical industry. They can produce drugs at a fraction of the cost at what Merck wants to sell them for. Infact the drug prices are way lower in India than in Pakistan next door because India happened to develop its own pharmaceutical industry.
The American Corporations don't like that .They want more children to die in India. They want more profit; which means more children die in India. They want to make sure that India doesn't produce drugs costing less than the American counterparts. Now this is done in two ways under GATT. One way is to increase the length of patents. The other is to change their character from Process Patent to Product Patent.
The thing that made American prices higher is now put up as an Ordinance in India. It is being considered in next Session of our Parliament.
So we need to ACT now before it is too late, before we will need to burn our pocket before even buying a tablet of Disprin or the like. Please follow the actions as mentioned above to spread this fact among as many people, so that this Bill is not passed.
Maybe, the legislature will listen… But let us try our best.