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EU Software Patent Legislation: a real threat for Linux and Open Source
EU Software Patent Legislation: a real threat for Linux and Open Source Altadena, CA; Paris, France; May, 13 2004 - Mandrakesoft would like to alert all users and the software community at large about a recent clandestine attack by proprietary interest through covert adoption of EU Software Patent Legislation. In direct contravention of the recent vote by the European Parliament to curtail Software Patents, the Irish Presidency of the European Union has surreptitiously reinstated unlimited software patent language into the text of a statement to be adopted by the European Council of Ministers on Monday May, 17th, without further debate! The new text, if adopted, will extend Software Patents to every piece of software, including computer programs, data structures, and process descriptions. This will directly harm most software firms and all Open Source projects unable to pay patent licensing tribute, and amounts to an appropriation of the public domain by proprietary interests. A direct beneficiary will be a new class of pure patent companies without any real business or contribution to employment, which will use the threat of litigation to extort payments. Of note is that a sponsor of the Irish Presidency is Microsoft, currently building a large patent portfolio. If the Software Patent text is adopted, Microsoft may use this patent portfolio against Linux and other Open Source projects. Mandrakesoft would like to forewarn and mobilize its users and the software community about the very real threat of such a law. Please contact the media, your political representatives, and your government, and urge them to vote against unlimited Software Patents and to revert to the previous European Parliament position. For further information please see the following links: http://swpat.ffii.org/journal/04/cons0507/index.en.html http://kwiki.ffii.org/SwpatcninoEn About Mandrakesoft Mandrakesoft is the publisher of the popular Mandrakelinux operating system, one of the most full-featured and easy to use Linux systems available. The company offers its enterprise, government and educational customers a complete range of GNU/Linux and Open Source software and related services. Mandrakesoft products are available in more than 120 countries through dedicated channels and also from Mandrakestore.com, the company's online store. Number 1 in several countries, Mandrakesoft has won many awards for quality and technical innovation. "Born on the Internet" in late 1998, Mandrakesoft has offices in the United States and France. Mandrakesoft is traded on Paris Euronext Marché Libre (ISIN Code: FR0004159382/MLMAN; Reuters code: MAKE.PA) and the US OTC market (stock symbol MDKFF). http://www.mandrakesoft.com (Log in to post comments)
EU Software Patent Legislation: a real threat for Linux and Open Source Posted May 14, 2004 12:13 UTC (Fri) by j_heald (guest, #15398) [Link] See also:
EU Software Patent Legislation: a real threat for Linux and Open Source Posted May 14, 2004 14:25 UTC (Fri) by ccchips (guest, #3222) [Link] A fundamental principle of politics:When you don't get what you want, cheat. If you have lots of money and power, no one will stop you. I wonder how many people are crippled, sick, disabled, blind, mentally damaged, and whatever all else from these cheaters? I'm referring specifically to how the rich and powerful have manipulated drug laws, and taken over drug companies, to the benefit of their stock portfolios and the detriment of the rest of us. Now, they're trying to bring the same disease to computer software. When wil people stand up and put thes pigs where they belong?
EU Software Patent Legislation: a real threat for Linux and Open Source Posted May 15, 2004 21:03 UTC (Sat) by XERC (guest, #14626) [Link] They will do it after they realize, that they can live without Windows.I've swapped a few software-patent related and EU related letters with one of our(Estonian) MEP-candidates. He is a law professor and a dean of one of the local private universities. He gave a very straight, honest and reasonable answer(and I'm going to vote for him on the June 13.) but the things that are related to software and software patents, are just too alien and too technical for him. He is a smart and ethical person, but he just isn't capable of handling that sort of topics. So, if the community as a whole goes down to the bottom of the sea, then there is nobady else to blame besides the people(read: EU/US citizens) themselves.
EU Software Patent Legislation: a real threat for Linux and Open Source Posted May 14, 2004 15:50 UTC (Fri) by jdesbonnet (guest, #2771) [Link] It seems that Microsoft have purchased themselves another government.If there is any doubt about it take a look at this story: "She [Irish eGovernment minister] said that the open standards approach was essential for the interoperability of applications. However open source products didn't survive the long-term cost analysis, she said." The "open standards" refering to the patented XML schemas no doubt.
EU Software Patent Legislation: a real threat for Linux and Open Source Posted May 14, 2004 15:57 UTC (Fri) by jdesbonnet (guest, #2771) [Link] Another more detailed story from The Register relating to the above:http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/04/30/irish_government_open_source/
EU Software Patent Legislation: a real threat for Linux and Open Source Posted May 16, 2004 12:59 UTC (Sun) by ompaul (guest, #15362) [Link] Why are you reading this, action it, contact and explain the issues to someone you know now?Ask them to do the same. Ring someone you know who knows an Irish person convince them to contact a politician.
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