This shows that at least some MEPs are just repeating the disinformation they have been fed.
This guy is (or wants you to believe he is?) under the impression that the directive only allows patents on software that is part of a technical device (e.g. embedded software that controls an intelligent car braking system) and not on software in general that is executed on a PC or an internet server.
However, there is nothing in the proposed directive that prohibits such types of general software patents (note that recently, a broader version of the Amazon "one click" patent was granted by the EPO. This kind of patents would become enforceable once laws based on this directive are passed. There are many many more patents like this granted by the EPO waiting to become activated).
I cannot see in article 5 (page 20) and its explanation on page 15 anything else than an insidious attempt to defuse "free speech" objections. It can be interpreted in such a way that writing and publishing software cannot be patented (hence free speech would be protected), but actually running the software makes you liable to patent claims!
Having a revision option does not help if you could already know that accepting the directive will be a major mistake. Innovation will be stifled instead of stimulated. A bunch of patent lawyers, patent pirates and big companies will profit at the cost of small and medium software makers and the consumer. Voting for the directive is not in the interest of the European citizen.
Read it for yourself, the text of the directive is here:
More than 2500 web sites participate in the online protest.
The overview can be seen at http://www.eurielec.etsit.upm.es/OnlineDemoPartner sWebsites.php
It's possible that a number of those websites removed the protest page again after wednesday 27 august. I've decided to leave mine up at least until the vote.
A simple way to defeat EAS and RFID tags is to shield them from the electromagnetic field used to detect them. This has been on the TV news in the Netherlands: in a shopping mall in Amstelveen, a suburb of Amsterdam, shopping bags lined with tin foil are banned, and you are fined heavily if the police find you with one.
The latest I heard (from a guy who took part in the demonstration in Brussels last wednesday and talked with a number of MEPs) was that the vote is probably going to be held next tuesday or thursday, and less likely on monday. I think I misunderstood about September 22 somehow.
If major websites are influenced by this, it may serve as an effective illustration of the effect of software patents on innovation. Note that Microsoft is not taking a license, instead they are choosing to change IE so that it avoids the patent; this will probably not be an improvement.
I just hope some of this becomes clear before the Euro Parliament vote on the software patents directive (I heard that the vote is pushed back again, to september 22)
This is not about removing patent law, it's about avoiding getting a software patent law we don't have, and that we surely don't need!
At this time, in Europe it is not permitted to patent software (although the European Patent Office has been illegally accepting software patents for many years). The experience in the US, where software patents are legal, shows that real inventors do not profit from them and that innovation is stifled rather than stimulated.
I find it difficult to comprehend why we Europeans cannot learn from that experience and are about to repeat this mistake in Europe!
I am worried that the members of the European Parliament have the impression that the protests are not to be taken seriously, coming mostly from outspoken Open Source enthusiasts. These are too often regarded as not respecting intellectual property, only out to use software, ideas and information without having to pay for it. While the opposite is generally true: why run Linux and OpenOffice.org instead of an easily obtained illegal copy of MS Windows and MS Office?
I just hope that the MEPs understand nobody has to gain from software patents as proposed in the directive, except a bunch of patent lawyers, patent pirates, and big software companies (and the latter not even in the long run).
Innovation will be stifled instead of promoted.
Small and medium sized software developers (not only open source) and the consumer will pay the price.
Let's see if the members of the European Parliament remember their mandate and vote in the interest of the European citizen!
The maximum read range of RFID smart labels (such as would be used by Gillette or in Benetton's clothing) is about 1 meter with the biggest and most powerful readers available.
It is highly unlikely that the maximum read range with these types of RFID labels can be considerably extended, because the field strength of the inductive antenna drops very rapidly with distance. In other words, you need enormous amounts of power for just a bit of extra reading distance.
Slashdot Mirror
I don't think anyone will be impressed much by your opinion if you express it by making a nuisance of yourself.
This guy is (or wants you to believe he is?) under the impression that the directive only allows patents on software that is part of a technical device (e.g. embedded software that controls an intelligent car braking system) and not on software in general that is executed on a PC or an internet server.
However, there is nothing in the proposed directive that prohibits such types of general software patents (note that recently, a broader version of the Amazon "one click" patent was granted by the EPO. This kind of patents would become enforceable once laws based on this directive are passed. There are many many more patents like this granted by the EPO waiting to become activated).
I cannot see in article 5 (page 20) and its explanation on page 15 anything else than an insidious attempt to defuse "free speech" objections. It can be interpreted in such a way that writing and publishing software cannot be patented (hence free speech would be protected), but actually running the software makes you liable to patent claims!
Having a revision option does not help if you could already know that accepting the directive will be a major mistake. Innovation will be stifled instead of stimulated. A bunch of patent lawyers, patent pirates and big companies will profit at the cost of small and medium software makers and the consumer. Voting for the directive is not in the interest of the European citizen.
Read it for yourself, the text of the directive is here:
The overview can be seen at http://www.eurielec.etsit.upm.es/OnlineDemoPartner sWebsites.php
It's possible that a number of those websites removed the protest page again after wednesday 27 august. I've decided to leave mine up at least until the vote.
A simple way to defeat EAS and RFID tags is to shield them from the electromagnetic field used to detect them. This has been on the TV news in the Netherlands: in a shopping mall in Amstelveen, a suburb of Amsterdam, shopping bags lined with tin foil are banned, and you are fined heavily if the police find you with one.
The latest I heard (from a guy who took part in the demonstration in Brussels last wednesday and talked with a number of MEPs) was that the vote is probably going to be held next tuesday or thursday, and less likely on monday. I think I misunderstood about September 22 somehow.
I just hope some of this becomes clear before the Euro Parliament vote on the software patents directive (I heard that the vote is pushed back again, to september 22)
You're much more likely to encounter Europeans than Martians.
I second that.
Except that the government is supporting free software.
Using and promoting free software stimulates local know-how and will generate many jobs.
This is just one more sign that by electing their president Lula, the Brazilian people got the government they deserve (in a positive sense).
Let's see on september 1 (the vote on the Software Patents Directive) if we Europeans can we be equally happy with our Parliament...
Away with foul language in traffic!
if you were offering to pay us Linux users $699 apiece, we might change our attitude.
At this time, in Europe it is not permitted to patent software (although the European Patent Office has been illegally accepting software patents for many years). The experience in the US, where software patents are legal, shows that real inventors do not profit from them and that innovation is stifled rather than stimulated.
I find it difficult to comprehend why we Europeans cannot learn from that experience and are about to repeat this mistake in Europe!
I am worried that the members of the European Parliament have the impression that the protests are not to be taken seriously, coming mostly from outspoken Open Source enthusiasts. These are too often regarded as not respecting intellectual property, only out to use software, ideas and information without having to pay for it.
While the opposite is generally true: why run Linux and OpenOffice.org instead of an easily obtained illegal copy of MS Windows and MS Office?
I just hope that the MEPs understand nobody has to gain from software patents as proposed in the directive, except a bunch of patent lawyers, patent pirates, and big software companies (and the latter not even in the long run).
Innovation will be stifled instead of promoted.
Small and medium sized software developers (not only open source) and the consumer will pay the price.
Let's see if the members of the European Parliament remember their mandate and vote in the interest of the European citizen!
Are we going to see the protest page at www.slashdot.org tomorrow?
The maximum read range of RFID smart labels (such as would be used by Gillette or in Benetton's clothing) is about 1 meter with the biggest and most powerful readers available. It is highly unlikely that the maximum read range with these types of RFID labels can be considerably extended, because the field strength of the inductive antenna drops very rapidly with distance. In other words, you need enormous amounts of power for just a bit of extra reading distance.
The major manufacturers of chips for RFID "smart labels" are Philips and Texas Instruments.
Yes, many! See, for example: http://www.identitrack.co.uk/usesofrfid.htm