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Torvalds And Cox Write EU Parliament On Patents

Posted by timothy on from the sorry-we-patented-writing-already dept.

replicant_deckard writes "Linus Torvalds and Alan Cox have sent an open letter to the members of the European Parliament. They ask for strict limitations to software patents, argue for open standards and ask the members of the parliament to follow FFII's voting recommendations. Vote on the controversial software patents directive will be on Wednesday and it is expected to be a very close one. Well, do you believe these guys have any impact in Brussels?"

14 of 293 comments (clear)

  1. Did Alan have to really write a letter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    He could have just called up his relative.

  2. Beats my letter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Daer UE,

    Patanst r teh suckzorz!!!! Say ON TO TEHM!!!

    Loev,
    Anonimouse cowerd

    1. Re:Beats my letter by AKnightCowboy · · Score: 4, Funny
      Daer UE, Patanst r teh suckzorz!!!! Say ON TO TEHM!!! Loev, Anonimouse cowerd

      Can someone translate this? I take it this is in French since it is directed at Brussels. Babelfish is unable to translate though so perhaps it's German?

    2. Re:Beats my letter by BRTB · · Score: 5, Funny
      I'm not entirely sure... the transposition and random addition of certain characters is somewhat unique, as is the failure to fully convert certain words into the common dialect, but I believe this is the message:


      Dear Representatives of the European Union:

      Software patents are, in the technological community, considered a dangerous and misdirected restriction of the rights of all free-thinking parties involved. I respectfully request that you decline any legislative measure giving force to ideas of legal protection for implementations of common software designs.

      Sincerely,
      Anonymous
  3. Well by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, do you believe these guys have any impact in Brussels?

    I don't know - how big a check are they including with their letter?

    1. Re:Well by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      well if the letter was open, then the check will probably get stolen before it gets there.

  4. Re:hmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Thank you for contacting us. We here at the write back department of your centeral goverment are really unaware and issues that go on in the world today. We understand your feelings about whatever you wrote about and will take the time to discuss it over the watercooler in order to enhance our better understanding of your issue. We assure you that no one of any great importance will actually see the letter to took the time to right, and look forward to ignoring you in the future.

    Yours truely...

    underpaid staff

    P.s. What is a software patent?

  5. Graffiti? by D-Cypell · · Score: 5, Funny
    Torvalds And Cox Write EU Parliament On Patents

    Now im all for this non-violent, direct action stuff, but if Linus and Alan are going to around defacing patents, im not sure i understand the relevance of 'EU Parliament'.

    Perhaps it would be better to stick with the classics, "Linux and Alan woz ere" or "Linux rules OK?" for example.

  6. Re:FFII? by Graspee_Leemoor · · Score: 4, Funny

    Would you take a chocobo's advice on patent law?

    You: So, Mr. Random Chocobo, what are your recommendations for changing the law as it currently stands with regard to patents?

    Chocobo: Kweh?

    You: Or do you think that no change is necessary?

    Chocobo: Wark!

    You: What's that? You want me to give you some greens? I seeeeeeeeee...

    graspee

  7. Re:May have some impact by Realistic_Dragon · · Score: 4, Funny

    How prevalent are large campaign donations in Europe? Are lobby groups any where near as powerful as they are in the US?

    No, most of our politicians push stupid, industry biased laws _without_ being purchased.

    --
    Beep beep.
  8. Re: Open letter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Dear Alan and his friend Linus,

    I've used your operating system once. It is slow, it crashed once with my Mozilla browser taking a minute to open, and none of my digital camera drivers worked with it.

    Till then I suggest you improve your softwares. And Alan, tell Mom I said hi.

    Love,
    Pat Cox
    EU President

  9. impact of torvalds and cox by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well, do you believe these guys have any impact in Brussels?

    Maybe if you drop them from 20,000 meters.

  10. Re:Wrong guys, send RMS there instead! by jmv · · Score: 2, Funny

    Please, don't send RMS. By the time he's done explaining why you shouldn't talk about "Intellectual Property" and why you should say "GNU/Linux", the law will already be voted.

    --
    Opus: the Swiss army knife of audio codec
  11. Re:Poor grammar? by Ichoran · · Score: 3, Funny

    Maybe they didn't write it.