False open source representative calls for European software patents (NewsForge) [LWN.net]

In this NewsForge article, Bruce Perens reports that a false or misled "open source representative" has signed an industry resolution calling for the EU to allow software patenting. "Software patents could be fatal for Open Source software in the U.S. and Europe. Since we do not collect royalties from the distribution of our own software, we have no funds to pay royalties to patent holders. Rather than sue us to collect money, expect patent holders to sue Open Source developers to restrain them from distributing their software or carrying out further development. Companies that produce proprietary software would bring that sort of suit to kill us off as a competitor."

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False open source representative calls for European software patents

Posted May 6, 2003 16:19 UTC (Tue) by rkpagadala (guest, #6588) [Link]

Reminds me of Astroturf

False open source representative calls for European software patents (NewsForge)

Posted May 7, 2003 8:50 UTC (Wed) by ekj (subscriber, #1524) [Link]

What exactly is an "open source representative" anyway ? Am I one ? Who selects such "representatives" and on what basis ?

Completely bogus. Open Source is not an organization. It doesn't have a formal anything. Now individual projects migth, or migth not, have a formal structure with elected or otherwise appointed representatives, but the entire movement as such do not, and fundamentally can not.

False open source representative calls for European software patents (NewsForge)

Posted May 7, 2003 15:29 UTC (Wed) by BrucePerens (subscriber, #2510) [Link]

Well, Mr. Taylor certainly isn't our representative. He's purposely advocating a course that could destroy Open Source software in Europe. I suspect that his organization is what's known as an "astroturf" campaign.

And we do have formal organizations. One of the ones I work with (and founded) is a proper 501(c)3 corporation with membership among a number of prestigious Free Software projects. I was elected by open source programmers - not all of them, but a representative sample. And I'm reflecting the general sentiment of Open Source developer community. Mr. Taylor is an outsider who is welcome to evangelise, but has no right to speak for us.

Bruce

False open source representative calls for European software patents (NewsForge)

Posted May 7, 2003 21:38 UTC (Wed) by glen1000 (guest, #11046) [Link]

Hmm. Bruce says:

In writing this alert I am relying on information provided by

* Hartmut Pilch, FFII & Eurolinux Alliance
* Bernard Lang
* Francois PELLEGRINI

Did you call this Taylor guy to check your facts before publishing? It sounds like he made a dumb move but these days I'm sceptical when I see instant horror stories. Why would he do it? It's either so blatant that it blows his credibility totally or there could be something we aren't hearing about this. What's his take on it?

False open source representative calls for European software patents (NewsForge)

Posted May 8, 2003 14:03 UTC (Thu) by BrucePerens (subscriber, #2510) [Link]

Multiple Open Source activists known to me have tried to talk with him. I asked a British friend to get him to withdraw the statement he'd signed, with no success. The statement is sufficient evidence that he does not have our interests in mind.

When our people get through to him, he replies with generalities or non sequitors. This is what makes me think he's an astroturf campaign. Alan Cox is a lot closer to the situation (since both Cox and Taylor are in the UK), and has negative comments about this fellow.

Bruce