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Members of european parliament's opinion database by janwedekind · 2005-06-26 04:53 · Score: 1 · on Major Blow to Opponents of Software Patents in EU

Codeliberty is maintaining a database of the MEP's votes in regards to software patents.

If you have a look at the text of each amendment, you can see, that the intention of some amendments is pretty well disguised.

Re:This is a nice smoke screen by Balaitous · 2004-11-16 01:29 · Score: 1 · on The Economist on Patent Reform

Agreed, but is not extending patents to cover informational entities exactly the type of "throwing out refined wisdom" that you are afraid of ? It was introduced over a short period, and by throwing out the output of a considerable debate that had concluded that one should not do it. For instance, people seem to forget that between 1950 and 1970, the idea of patenting software and information processing was rejected after an in-depth debate, and by people who knew what they were doing. Refer to a remarkable paper by Christian Beauprez for full coverage.
Should we now accept to live forever with this absurdity because some interest groups took advantage of a momentaneous situation to install it ?

The UKPO paper disassembled by christianUK · 2004-11-14 08:15 · Score: 1 · on UK Gov't EU Software Patents Public Meeting

In addition to the FFII paper above, there is also a paper I put together that shows the UKPO's assertions about what "technical" software is seems to be very different to what the Commission report of 2002 says it is.

Software Patents: Clarity or Status Quo? I mainly would request to anyone who is thinking of attending just to ask them to explain 'technical' in clear, understandable language- what does it mean?.

Is calculating and ordering information technical, yes or no? Are methods of performing mental acts technical? Are computer programs technical in the sense of art 52 epc? What about the rights of software authors to publish their works under Arts 10 and 13 of TRIPS and the fact that the broadness of patents interferes with this? This is the debate they don't seem to want to have in the open- but restating all this nonsense about "technical" software I feel really insults my intelligence and the intellect of every programmer who has had the misfortune to be caught up in this debate.

I would like to see a vote in the House of Commons (or even the Lords) to see if the British government really support this line on unlimited patentability before this kind of pro-council document conference goes ahead- if this campaign is all to be done in the name of the Government, there can be no harm in obtaining consensus through a vote. (The primary executive, not the quangos - an issue this important must be put before the House. IMHO)

I have a feeling that many backbenchers in all parties will be very interested to hear what is going on and being banded about outside the UK as the "official line" , and I doubt that many will support this line after seeing how other countries have pulled up their Governments over the semantic alchemy in the Council document - and demanded a recount.

Re:How are "No Software Patents" a Good Thing(tm)? by Arend · 2004-07-02 04:05 · Score: 2, Interesting · on Dutch Parliament Reverses Software Patent Vote

Because as an *author* of software I have certain rights. Copyright gives me certain privileges that I as an author of *my* work can expect to enjoy, like any other author.

These privileges are taken away by software patents. Actually, some people go that far as to say software patents are illegal, because they breach international treaties:

Article 10 WIPO, "Contracting Parties may, in their national legislation, provide for limitations of or exceptions to the rights granted to authors of literary and artistic works under this Treaty in certain special cases that do not conflict with a normal exploitation of the work and do not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the author.

Software patents *do* "conflict with a normal exploitation" of your work as an author of a program, so Beauprez certainly has a point.

Not just time to write, it's time to VOTE now! by D4C5CE · 2004-06-06 04:34 · Score: 2, Insightful · on Mandatory Banknote Detection Code?

...as Europe has even more surprises in store for us:
money-wise, such as banknotes with RFID serial numbers (making anonymous transactions impossible even for cash, plus creating a huge data trail even for innocuous daily purchases, and finally giving robbers the opportunity to single out the most promising victim before aiming their gun or swinging the baseball bat), which seems to scare even the RFID industry itself, and
otherwise, especially with respect to the creation of dangerous additional intellectual property rights (undue powers for copyright holders, and software/business method patents).

This database should give everyone a good idea whom to elect, and whom to vote out of office ASAP.

The fact that so few people participate in European elections only adds to the weight of your votes.

A reasonably composed European Parliament (which can now veto most of the proposals by Commission and Council) is our best chance for (more) sensible lawmaking in the future.

Re:Lib Dems? by pond0123 · 2004-06-02 00:28 · Score: 1 · on Europeans, Tweak Your Representatives On Patents

Unfortunately, given this list of candidates and this summary of patent bill votes, every single representative, apart from the UKIP for whom I have no intention of voting, is marked "red", i.e. against amendments to the bill (including Lib Dems). So unless I'm reading that table incorrectly, there are precisely no candidates for whom I wish to vote in East Anglia.

I second the call from a previous poster for the electoral system in the UK to be revised to include, at the very least, a "none of the above" option.

Re:For all the Finns by 4ntifa · 2004-06-01 23:40 · Score: 1 · on Europeans, Tweak Your Representatives On Patents

Check out this site to see how Finnish MEPs voted. (thanks to Raphael for the link a few posts up)

Also, check out how each parliament group voted and which group your candidate would be a part of. GUE/NGL seems to oppose software patents the most - so vote for a leftist!

Re:Don't vote UKIP! by meringuoid · 2004-06-01 22:33 · Score: 1 · on Europeans, Tweak Your Representatives On Patents

Appalling though the UKIP are, there's one thing they have in their favour. They voted against software patents. On this list of UK MEPs, Booth, Farage and Titford are the UKIP representatives.

Of course, the UKIP crew vote against pretty much everything. Oh, and they're a bunch of racist scum.