Slashdot Mirror
Demonstrations Against EU Software Patent Plans
Halo1 writes "On Wednesday August 27th, there will be a demonstration at the European Parliament in Brussels against the proposed directive on software patents, organised by the FFII. As an additional (or alternative) action, people are encouraged to participate in an online demonstration that day, replacing the main page of their website with a text explaining the dangers of introducing unlimited patentability in Europe. The proposed directive would make it impossible to refuse patents on algorithms and business methods such as a recently uncovered European patent from Amazon on ordering a gift for and automatically delivering it to a third party, which is even broader than its infamous 1-Click patent."
Who's got the time to write this up and modify their web site? Better if somebody makes up a standard page we can all copy.
But that FFII logo isn't snappy enough... we need a simple one like those Aids Ribbons or the Free Speech one that went around some years ago. And have it placed at the front of websites taking part, at the top, right across... not lurking at the bottom of the page several scroll screens down like some I've seen lurking in territory that very few browsers scroll to.
I'm all for this campaign but it really neds a better logo.
Donald 'Duck' Dunn: We had a band powerful enough to turn goat piss into gasoline.
Perhaps if we allow all these shit patents clog up the 'system', the people and other companies will revolt?
Just an idea..
I'm sure someone in the U.S. of A. must have patented unlimited patentability.
The EU is a collection of countries and doesn't have to answer to people, just countries. Don't feel bad that you have no legal recourse to stop what we're doing, silly demonstrators, it's not like we care what you say/think anyway. Just keep being a good little worker.
Here is a sample page http://wiki.ael.be/index.php/ReadyToPlug
i guess my vote (yea or nay) this september depends on the outcome of that stuff...
Who's got the time to write this up and modify their web site? Better if somebody makes up a standard page we can all copy.
/. management, please send this article into the main page...
How about these example pages?
Why isn't this article on the /. main page? If europe would say no to SWP it would send a very strong signal to the US, and maybe act as a catalyst world wide against SWP. I think this "online-event" can be a quite effective demontration if it gets adopted by _many_ sites world wide. [irony] But of course, i am dreaming now, people are way to lasy and have the politicians they deserve [/irony].
I don't why this webpage is not published on the /. frontpage, but this news is call to ask people to be there next week...Hurry up and please move it...
It sounds as though people already are making their voice heard on this issue. Today I was listening to a radio debate on the future of the European Parliament broadcast on BBC radio 4. (The broadcast will be repeated Saturday 10:15pm.) One of the participants, a British MEP, said she had received many messages from constituents about the new software patent directives -- proving, as she said, the importance of the EP in representing citizens' interests in EU legislation. Personally I'm in no doubt that the unofficial /. campaign against the directive was responsible for a large number of said messages.
The author of this post asserts his moral rights.
Maybe to most /. readers a story about obscure machinations in the bureaucracies of far off lands is a little too dull. I'd suggest spicing it up a bit with some catchier headlines:
;-) What really bothers me though is the lack of interest in the mainstream press. If it was literature, art or music facing this nightmare the likes of John Humphries of BBC Radio 4's Today programme would haul in the senior cabinet ministers and McCarthy would be MEP in charge of banana curvature the very next day.
"Patent War in Europe: Brussels to be razed to the ground"
"Evil tyrant McCarthy to face wrath of the people"
"World faces patent doom - Heroes march on Brussels"
When I submitted something on the same topic a while back I just used the old trick of mentioning RMS - works every time
If any fellow Brits are still reading this, I'd be interested to know if anyone has any experience of approaching the media. I mean the Today prog. people for example who aren't stupid and could surely be made to understand the issues. Considering the power they wield I'm wondering if any efforts have been made to get them on side.
It seems that the slashdot editors doesn't give a damn about what happens in Europe, nevertheless the fact that many of their readers are from outside the US, they clearly state that they are a US oriented site, and will remain like this.
Are we going to see the protest page at www.slashdot.org tomorrow?
I would like to claim that I boycott Amazon. But the convenience of finding especially used books for low prices it too enticing. If another company could do as good a job with providing a market for used/3rd party buying options I would drop Amazon altogether permanently.