EU Council agitates for unlimited software patents [LWN.net]

Heise Online covers the software patent battle going on inside the EU council. ""Cancelled" or "reformulated" is the standard comment in the footnotes whenever the new text speaks about the changes of the Parliament. The Council does some small concessions to the software patent opponents, i.e. the impact of the EU legislation for "small and mid-sized companies and the Open Source movement" shell be examined. This is however, no "compromise" in any way, FFII counters the Council's terminology. "It's as if in a debate on whether or not we should raise the speed limits on the roads, the compromise would be to raise them and additionally remove the requirement to wear seat belts", Belgian FFII spokesman Jonas Maebe comments on the proposal." (Thanks to Dirk Hillbrecht)

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Is this nightmare never going to end?

Posted Feb 24, 2004 23:44 UTC (Tue) by man_ls (subscriber, #15091) [Link]

It seems as if it's going to take a battle in every instance of power we have in ole Europe.

On this issue, the European institutions are clearly losing any respect we might have for them. They seem intent on taking away all the fun there is in computing; and what's even worse, they will make the lives of small companies miserable. It seems crazy to yield to the pigopolists this way, when even in the US the tide seems to be against software patents.

Thanks to the good folks at FFII for being ever vigilant.

EU Council agitates for unlimited software patents

Posted Feb 25, 2004 0:50 UTC (Wed) by AlanCox (guest, #4858) [Link]

There are EU parliament elections coming up. If you don't care about EU politics go vote from the green party or other parties that are anti larg e corporation and US like patent stupidity and vote for open source/free software. Don't waste the vote - especially in the UK where 18% is the expected turnout - free software developers effectively count 5 times over if they all get out and vote on this one.

EU Council agitates for unlimited software patents

Posted Feb 25, 2004 10:16 UTC (Wed) by jdthood (guest, #4157) [Link]

> If you don't care about EU politics go vote from the green party

Is that supposed to be an endorsement? :)

> or other parties that are anti-large-corporation and [anti-]US-like-
> patent-stupidity and vote for open source/free software.

Yes, the Green party isn't the only one with good policies on FLOSS.
Parties and their policies vary considerably from country to country,
however, so one has to do some research before voting.

But I agree: Do vote!

EU Council agitates for unlimited software patents

Posted Feb 25, 2004 13:22 UTC (Wed) by eru (subscriber, #2753) [Link]

Yes, the Green party isn't the only one with good policies on FLOSS. Parties and their policies vary considerably from country to country,

And for canditate to candidate. It is a bit of a problem for me that the Finnish MEP who has been most active against software patents is Pia-Noora Kauppi ( example of her excellent activities) who belongs to our equivalent of the conservative party, which I normally do not vote for. I might vote for ms. Kauppi, but if she does not make it, my vote ends up benefiting some other conservative, who very possibly could have pro-patent sentiments....

EU Council agitates for unlimited software patents

Posted Feb 25, 2004 22:22 UTC (Wed) by lakeland (subscriber, #1157) [Link]

Tricky. Perhaps sending her an email could lead to the party adopting an
official stance on patents?

Here (New Zealand) the system is quite different and you vote both for a
party, and and a MP. The MP vote is almost irrelevant, though in your
case it would be useful.

EU Council agitates for unlimited software patents

Posted Feb 26, 2004 23:32 UTC (Thu) by kwacka (guest, #14598) [Link]

It might also be useful to let MEPs know that they're being watched.

Find your local MEP (e.g. if you're in the UK look at http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/meps.htm),
email them & ask their views - let them know yours, and don't forget to reming them that elections are coming up.

EU Council agitates for unlimited software patents

Posted Feb 25, 2004 11:39 UTC (Wed) by man_ls (subscriber, #15091) [Link]

It is, IMHO, a futile attempt. The problem with these patents is that you have to litigate to prove anything, one way or the other; and, as seen in the US, the outcome is not always predictable on a rational basis.

As the old gipsy curse goes, "May you get into lawsuits, and win them".