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EU Software Patent Directive Getting Hot

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the so-take-off-all-your-clothes dept.

zoobab writes "Next wednesday, on the 6th July, the European Parliament will have the last chance to prevent US-style software patents in the EU. If the Parliament fails to reach 367 votes for the key amendments, then the Council directive will legalize business methods and software patents. Yesterday, many political groups have tabled amendments to patch the Council text. A demonstration online is running with currently 2400 websites shutting down until the vote. A physical demonstration is also planned in Strasbourg on next tuesday the 5th of July."

7 of 232 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Maybe EU needs software patents by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Did I miss several million meetings? What the hell?

    Last time I checked, the dollar was worth just over half of what the pound is worth. Of course this doesn't mean our economy is stronger than the U.S.'s but it sure doesn't mean we're "lagging behind".

    Innovation from the U.S.? I've always thought that the most innovation in software comes from Germany, but then that's just my opinion. Certainly I can say that we're not lacking when it comes to innovation though. A lot of great OSS was started by European software developers.

    If by innovation you mean how to make a disproportionate amount of money in regards to how much work you put into something, then yes, I suppose the U.S. is innovative. Making money isn't evil, but the way in which you do it can be.

    Please, we don't need your software patents. We prefer sanity.

  2. Physical Demonstration by jasoncart · · Score: 5, Funny

    Slashdot is possibly the only place where a demonstration would have to be called a "physical demonstration". Its, like, outside and everything...

  3. Re:Oh no by NickFortune · · Score: 5, Insightful
    And is there some reason why you feel that copyright is insufficient to this end? It seems to have worked for Microsoft.

    Perhaps you might define for us what you consider to be "real discoveries and innovations". Remember, the topic here is software patents.

    And if you do feel shoftware should be patented, please explain why it deserves this double protection, apart from the ability it grants multinational software concerns to prevent free software authors from distribnuting the the software they own.

    --
    Don't let THEM immanentize the Eschaton!
  4. Re:thanks to this article by johnMG · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Not Slashdot though, of course. Lord forbid they practise what they preach, not while there's ad revenue to be made.

    Heh. Good point. I'd like to see some big sites shut down. Imagine if Google shut down in protest? That would get some attention. The whole freakin' internet would seize up if Google shut down for a few days.

  5. Re:Confused about EU system by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Indeed it is undemocratic and has its roots in the history of the EU. In order to avoid giving the EU the appearance of a federation, the the governments (i.e. the executive branch) of the memberstates have the most say in all matters.

    Short summary: There are 3 bodies in the EU lawmaking process: The Commission, the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament.
    The EP members are directly elected by the population of the EU.
    The Council of Ministers is just that: the ministers of the member states.
    The Commission gets proposed by the Council of Ministers and confirmed by the Parliament (note the EP only has a veto right here). It is the de-facto executive branch of the EU and the ONLY body that can start a legislative process.
    Depending on the kind of legislation, the EP has some say in the matter.
    The Council of Ministers ALWAYS has a say and usually has the stronger position too (compared to the EP).

    So, in short, the LEGISLATION of the EU is mostly done by the EXECUTIVE of the member states (division of power anyone?).

    This has, in literature about this topic, been shamefully called the ``democratic deficit'' of the EU.
    It's sickening.

  6. Emails are a *complete* waste of time now by Sanity · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I have spoken to many MEPs over the last few weeks, and take it from me that emails are a complete waste of time at this stage. You need to phone them to make any difference.

  7. A call from a programmer matters by D.+J.+Keenan · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Some Slashdotter's might be thinking that they are not part of the political elite and that a phone call from themselves to an MEP won't do much good. Not so!

    MEPs respect programmers on this issue. If you are an experienced programmer, a polite phone call to your MEP, briefly stating your position and the reasons for it, will be respected and could make a real difference. (For possible reasons to discuss, see other comments to this story.)

    If you do call--and I hope you will--the main trick will be to explain things to someone who likely has little knowledge of computers. For example, one MEP told me that the proposed patent legislation is okay because it only pertains to "technical" software. So I then need to explain that all software can be considered technical, in some sense, and so this wouldn't be a restriction at all.

    Some corporate lobbyists will say almost anything. Many MEPs are genuinely not understanding the issues because of that.