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EuroLinux Calls For Papers In Patent Fight

Posted by Hemos on from the stop-the-stupidity! dept.

Bonnie Greene writes: "Michelle Head of LinuxNews.com discusses how EuroLinux is fighting software patents in Europe, a topic now officially under investigation by the European Commission. Got a report or position paper on the evils of software patents? EuroLinux wants to publish it in hopes of influencing the EC."

3 of 17 comments (clear)

  1. some more facts by arnim · · Score: 5
    some facts are missing or not quite right:

    - the reason for collecting the opinions is the conference on 20.-29. november this year, where the european patent offices will make their proposal for changing the european patent treaty. at the moment they want to change article 52 in a way to allow software patents.

    - the petition has already 52.000 signatures (pls sign if You haven't done it yet. it hasn't been mentioned on slashdot ever, even i submitted it several times)

    - eurolinux is not just against a software patent system similar to the US, but against any patents on software and algorithms.

  2. DEMYC (and YEPP?) opposes software patents by villoks · · Score: 5

    The following resolution was adapted in the Democrat Youth Community of Europe and will hopefully be adapted also in Youth of the European People's Party (they have a meeting in here Helsinki this weekend). Please feel free to use it to put pressure on your local (center-to-right) parties. The member organisations of can be found from www.demyc.org and www.yepp.org.

    Greets
    Ville

    Resolution on Computer Software Patents

    Unanimously adopted by the 85th Demyc Executive Committee in Cyprus

    1) Noting that European Patent Office is planning to remove computer programs from the list of the things which can not be patented of in its next conference in end of November

    2) Further noting the still existing great amount of unsolved problems in software patents like:
    * Abstract-logical nature of software, which is in conflict with the patent system's requirement for concreteness and physical substance

    * Inefficient long period of protection (20 years)

    * The lack of IT-expertise among the patent inspectors which would lead too wide patent claims to be accepted as has happened in the United States

    * The problem of anti-competitiveness; US software patents, if easily transferable to EU, could substantially narrow competition in the European Union, give dominant position to US corporations and have negative influence among European IT start-ups

    * The negative effect of patents to the Interoperability of computer programs

    3) Taking into consideration the strong opposition among small and medium size companies towards software patents in Europe

    4) Having in mind the enormous economic importance of computer software industry and its need for effective protection for its investments

    5) DEMYC calls upon European political parties and the European Commission (DG XV) to take immediate actions to delay all development on software patents until the problems are correctly addressed
    6) DEMYC further calls for taking actions to strengthen the European software industry by improving the regulatory framework on combating software piracy

    My DeCSS archive:

  3. Take actions also in your own country! by villoks · · Score: 5

    We are at the moment making an active campaing against SW-patents in Finland and from the experiences we have had, following conclusion can be made:

    A) Political parties (expecially MPs) don't know anything about the topic. On the other hand it's quite easy to explain them why SW-patents are bad for Europe. After that it's possible to ask them to take actions in this matter

    B) Civil servants are the persons who normally make the decisions in this field. They are normally very strongly in favor of widening patent system (more money to their budjec sector)

    C) Media doesn't understand the question, but if right "hitwords" are used, it's actually quite easy to get them write about the topic. An "objective" article is always better than an opinion letter.

    The most important thing anyway is that DO SOMETHING. Write. Call to a MP or parlamentary groups' secreteriats. Offer a bier to a journalist. After the European Patent Organisation makes its decision in the end of November, it's too late! We need just 5 European countries to oppose the chance in EPO in order to prevent it. And if EPC isn't changed, EU commission won't most likely try to harmonize the law..

    Greets
    Ville Oksanen

    PS. If anyone from Finland wants to know what can/should be done here (Finland haven't decided yet what's its offical position), please contact me! (v%oksanen.net)

    My DeCSS archive: