Sites Shut Down to Protest Software Patents

blueser writes "I went today to TUTOS homepage to check for a newer version, and I was surprised to see that the author replaced the homepage by a 'Closed because of Software-Patents' page, with a brief explanation." Just one site? that's hardly a big deal, but there's more. maliabu writes "Knoppix is closed, apparently waiting for the European Parliament to decide about the legalisation and adoption of so-called 'software patents' in Europe." And still more. SLbigE writes "The Wine HQ website has temporarily shut down its webpage in protest to a proposed law in Europe regarding Software Patents." There's many more sites as well, these were just the first I was alerted to, Feel free to note some more in comments. Looks like they're doing a good job of illustrating what could be lost soon.

Comments

Re:Microsoft wanted to protest aswell

[Brobock]

Nor, can they post anything without a WYSIWYG html editor with frontpage extensions on the unix server.

Re:I hold a patent

[Channard]

I hold the "Words on a webpage" patent. It turns out that all of you will have to pay me royalty fees!

Trouble is, I hold the 'Placing comments regards an item of news on a flexible message archiving system' patent, which I'm willing to waive fees on except in your case. So going by the amount of posts you've made on the forum, you owe me quite a tidy sum of money. Shall I send the baliffs round, or shall we call it quits?