More info [LWN.net]

More info

Posted Aug 28, 2003 16:03 UTC (Thu) by coriordan (guest, #7544)
Parent article: EU software patent vote delayed

I've talked the European Parliment Office.

The McCarthy report has been withdrawn. This happens when a report is decided to be overly contraversial, or when too many amendments are requested.

The report will go back to the committee stage. They'll have to come up with something that infuriates fewer people. It will then return to the plenary (main vote), on either Sept 22nd, or Oct 8th. (October being more likely)

This may have been decided due to the protest at the European Parliament in Brussels yesterday (27th). Either way, it's great news.

Ciaran O'Riordan

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The community CAN make a difference

Posted Aug 28, 2003 18:04 UTC (Thu) by dwalters (subscriber, #4207) [Link]

This shows that we CAN make a difference when we follow through with actions. But let's not get complacent. We have to see what the committee comes up with next.

If it is legislation that harminizes Europe by re-affirming and clarifying the exclusion of "programs for computers" in the European Patent Convention of 1973, then it will be welcome.

The community CAN make a difference

Posted Aug 28, 2003 21:16 UTC (Thu) by coriordan (guest, #7544) [Link]

> let's not get complacent. We have to see what the committee comes up

:) isn't that a contradiction?
Rather than wait and see what they come up with, I think we should get to work on the committee.

JURI produced a FAQ about the directive:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/en/indprop/comp/02-32.htm

It's all lies.

Arlene McCarthy is trying to convince the MEPs that this directive doesn't change much really. She implys that we are just ignorant protesters. We must show the MEPs that we are well informed, capable citizens, worth listening to. (not just frightened sheep following leaders with agendas)

The committee (JURI) endorsed the original directive by a 64% majority. This is an unusually small majority for a committee vote, it's reasonable to think we can swing a few committee members and get a directive we really want.

Ciaran O'Riordan

Thanks!

Posted Aug 28, 2003 20:03 UTC (Thu) by Peter (guest, #1127) [Link]

Very good news - many thanks to all of you in Europe staying active on this one.

(Being a stupid, lazy American, I didn't get involved. For one thing it's a bit unclear what I could have done anyway. I don't control a web site to paint black, etc.)

Vote in plenary delayed, but McCarthy report kept

Posted Aug 29, 2003 17:02 UTC (Fri) by xdrudis (guest, #14577) [Link]

I'm afraid there may have been some confusion here. At least I got confirmation from 4 MEP assitants that the JURI report on the software patents directive has not ben withdrawn or returned to JURI. It will still be voted in plenary, only at a later date (22.9.2003 or late, not yet decided).

I guess it may be a misunderstanding when somebody told somebody else it was withdrawn _from next monday agenda_ and then somebody informed about report withdrawal thinking they meant it was returned to JURI or something.

At least I wanted to warn of different sources agreeing in a different story.
Maybe somebody can check again with the EP Office in Ireland or any other
EP source.

These news of JURI report withdrawal have spread through many weblogs and news sites. I'm afraid people may think the situation is somehow better than it really is.