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Poland Blocks Software Patents in the EU
Several people wrote in with news bits about Poland maneuvering to block software patents in the EU. Patent supporters had planned to sneak in a patent vote at a meeting devoted to agriculture. While this is a temporary reprieve, it's very likely to reappear next year.
Is it possible that honest politicians still exist? Mr. Wlodzimierz Marcinski, took it upon himself to travel to Brussels to make a speech to the Fisheries council and point out how ludicrous and undemocratic sneaking this unpopular legislation through without revisions was. He had no official standing in the EU itself, and was representing Poland as Minister of Science. The cynic in me is saying, "maybe he was just upset no one bribed him." But there is this strange new feeling I've never felt before (I'll call it optimism) that says maybe he was actually trying to help his countrymen and the EU as a whole. Well done Mr. Marcinski. My American brain will not be able to remember your name, but I'll strive to remember that "Honest Polish Politician" whenever I'm completely overwhelmed with despair after reading the news here in the U.S.