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# News from the LPF

by Christian D.. Hofstader, `cdh@prep.ai.mit.edu`

The US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) will hold hearings early in 1994 on the topic of software patents. The PTO is recognizing that something is very wrong with the current policy and is looking for input on how to correct matters. The LPF is trying to get a representative invited to testify, and will call for members and others concerned with these issues to write letters to the PTO. Contact `lpf@uunet.uu.net` for details.

For the last few months, the LPF has been working on an amicus (friend of the court) brief which was presented to the appeal court in the appeal of Lotus v. Borland. The brief was directed solely at the Lotus claim to copyright over the macro language in `123` which was allowed by Judge Keeton in the lower court. The brief was filed on behalf of over 20 prominent computer scientists in the First Circuit Court on December 14, 1993.

The group that the LPF organized to sign the brief included such major contributors to computer science as Marvin Minsky, John McCarthy, and Robert Boyer. Bob Kohn, Borland VP and General Counsel, stated, "With this group the LPF should be able to change the course of intellectual property law. Never has such an impressive group of computer scientists been assembled."

The LPF will be making a supplemental filing in this case. If you are interested in signing or know someone who you feel would like to join the list, please forward the appropriate information to the LPF.

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