Legislative fun worldwide [LWN.net]

Linux Australia has published a lengthy position paper on the free software implications of the recently negotiated "free trade agreement" (FTA) with the United States. This agreement uses the trade treaty approach to bring American-style anti-circumvention and software patents to Australia. Linux Australia is now working to prevent the adoption of the FTA, and is looking for help. Among other things, there is an online petition to be signed, but the first priority for Australians is probably to contact their members of Parliament. See the Linux Australia FTA page for more information.

Meanwhile, on the European front: there will be a two-day gathering at the European Parliament in Brussels starting April 14 in an attempt to, once again, stop the threat of software patents in Europe; see this press release and the demonstration home page for details. The European Parliament voted against patents on software, but the European Commission and Council of Ministers have the last word - and they are considering a very different course of action. If Europe is going to avoid the imposition of U.S.-style software patents, Europeans will have to make their voices heard.

In the U.S., the House of Representatives is busily addressing our pressing national problems by considering the Piracy Deterrence and Education Act (PDEA - available in PDF format). This act calls for the FBI to "facilitate the sharing among law enforcement agencies, Internet service providers, and copyright owners" of information related to file sharing. The Attorney General's office is to set up an "education program" on "the value of copyrighted works and the effects of the theft of such works on those who create them," along with the security risks of file sharing. Most fun of all, however, is the provision for three-year jail sentences for anybody convicted of sharing a single file valued (by the copyright owner) at over $1000. The PDEA has passed the House Judiciary Intellectual Property Subcommittee; no word on when it may be voted on by the entire House.

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Privacy Deterrence

Posted Apr 8, 2004 22:54 UTC (Thu) by cdurst (guest, #2953) [Link]

> In the U.S., the House of Representatives is busily addressing our
> pressing national problems by considering the Privacy Deterrence and
> Education Act ...

I believe it's actually called the "Piracy Deterrence and Education Act
of 2004".

But "Privacy Deterrence" is probably a more accurate name! :-)

Privacy Deterrence

Posted Apr 8, 2004 23:34 UTC (Thu) by corbet (editor, #1) [Link]

Sheesh, Wednesday was a long day, I guess. The amusing thing is that it was up for almost 24 hours before anybody said anything; I guess few people get that far into a political article...

Privacy Deterrence

Posted Apr 9, 2004 18:43 UTC (Fri) by Ross (subscriber, #4065) [Link]

I thought you did it on purpose :)

SWPAT: Parliament also having "last words"

Posted Apr 13, 2004 12:50 UTC (Tue) by ber (subscriber, #2142) [Link]

The European Parliament voted against patents on software, but the European Commission and Council of Ministers have the last word

The legislative procedure for the directive is called "codecision". The European Parliament will get to vote again on the common position of the Council of Ministers. Further steps are down the line if the Parliament amends the proposal again.

The situation is desperate though: A new European Parliament is getting elected. The proponents of software patents will try to persuade the new one. If unsuccessfull they might drop the directive altogether which also means a battle lost.