European Council Approves Software Patents

A. S. Bradbury writes "ZDNet reports that the EU Council has voted to pass changes to European patent law that will allow the patentability of software. See the FFII for more coverage. Currently, the FFII states 'The Irish Presidency's proposal was passed, with support from Germany, France and most of the other countries whose ministers had publicly promised to oppose or at least abstain. The only no vote came from Spain (to be confirmed), Italy and a few others abstained.' As you may remember, Germany had previously promised to vote against software patents. The FFII news page seems to have been showing growing support in European countries for the FFII and other organisations fighting against software patents, but unfortunately that wasn't enough. So, what now? The European elections are approaching, which means MEPs might be more willing to listen to our views than normal. Slashdot has covered software patents in Europe before."

Comments

Re:May I be

[Frymaster]

I mean, talk about a stab in the back.

and you're surprised because why? contradiction, hypocrisy and breaking promises are the hallmark of liberal, representative democracy.

think of this: the number of domestic votes a country like, say, germany has that would be swayed by an issue like this is very minimal. the amount of potential campaign contributions from major software vendors, contributions that can translate directly to votes, is big. the outcome is obvious.

remember that a liberal democracy is a system whereby the rulers get votes from the poor and money for the rich while promising to protect each from the other.

As i've just posted in Groklaw minutes ago...

[AlfredoLambda]

'Software' patent proposal aproved with Spain's refusal

Pending a second reading in European Parliament

Brusselles-- EU Competition Council reached a political agreement about the patentability directive of inventions applied in the field of computer science, with span ish representative voting against it who stated the directive lacked enough guarantees to prevent computer programs being patented.

The Irish Presidency and the European Comission introduced amendments to satisfy Belgium, Germany, Italy and other countries refusing the proposal. But Spanish Secretary of State for European Affairs, Alberto Navarro, 'after consulting Madrid' decided to keep his negative vote.

The proposal, which has raised refusal among Free Software advocates, is still pending a second reading in European Parliament

[...]

The Spanish Government considers the advantages of the protection given by patentability are not clearly exposed, as computer programs are already protected by copyright law.

This is Good

[blunte]

Indirectly.

This will hopefully hasten the collapse of the software industry, highlighting exactly why software patents are bad.

The next 10 years could really be a mess, but hopefully people will learn from it.

This is all so typical. There is always someone, somewhere trying to twist the system to squeeze out some self-benefit, but always at the greater cost of society (and ironically, also usually at the long term cost of the selfish people themselves.)

OK, Euro-voters, do your thing

[GrouchoMarx]

When this sort of thing happens in the US, there is a huge cry of "you don't like it, you voted for them. Vote them out." Well, now it's time.

I'm in the US, so I can't do it this time. But to all the Europeans on Slashdot: Your own governments just lied to you about an EXTREMELY important issue. Your own representatives said they would vote against software patents, and then voted for them. Your next move is very simple.

1) Send a letter to the appropriate bureaucrat stating that you are upset, and inform them that they have lost your vote.
2) In the next election, send a letter to their opponent telling them why the incumbent pissed you off (software patent support), along with a check.
3) Vote for the challenger.
4) Watch as a few people wake up and realize that the voting public is not completely stupid and full of sheep.
5) Profit (not in money, but in Freedom).

Your turn now. You take out those bosos while we work against George "Fascist" Bush here on this side of the Atlantic. If you don't, you only encourage our slide into an information dark ages.

sigh.

[flacco]

if there is hope, it lies in the proles.