[Gllug] EU patents

[Will Napier]

Hi I am new (one week) to linux, programming and Open Source /Free 
Software. I know very little about the technicalities but am working on 
it. However coming from completely outside the IT world, I immediately 
see vital issues of personal liberty at stake in this area. As far as 
I'm concerned, whether the EU pass this or not is irrelevant to whether 
or not one should fight for important human freedoms. And I would like 
to agree with Daniel that we should 'rock'. Even if it does go through, 
the momentum of fs/os gives hope for a longer term future.



Daniel Ahrens wrote:
> Geez, what a dim view of 'the Real World [TM]'. The silent majority is doing
> no-one any favours. Only by engaging can you make a difference. In my
> experience, people who love to hackle from the sidelines are afraid to lead
> from the front because of the existence of people like themselves. It's so
> easy to criticise, to tear down, to annihilate and destroy, but so hard to
> create, to be positive, to contribute and to be ready to make a difference.
> M$ is only a company with roughly 5000 programmers and an army of sales
> staff and managers (approx 50 000). The 'free' and open software movement
> numbers in the millions. Yet, ur still shit scared of M$? That's pathetic.
> We're only going to get a EU version of DMCA if you / us / we / me allow it
> to happen. If we don't get involved at this stage, we don't have the moral
> right to criticise anyone or anything after the fact. But even if we will
> get a EU version of the DMCA because of our present collective inertia
> (while we're busy congratulating ourselves on having managed to install the
> latest kernel patch, which is a lot more difficult than writing a number of
> emails to your local MP, to your EU representative, to No 10 Downing Street
> in order to register your voice, your protest, your opinion in a matter
> which is of general concern to humanity as a whole), it will even then still
> be possible to change whatever has been set as law. But if you don't believe
> this to be even remotely possible, I agree that you might just as well
> continue using M$ software and forget about OS. Doesn't the fact that you
> are on this list signify that you DO believe that change is possible? :)
> 
> Let's rrrrrrrock!
> 
> 
> Daniel Ahrens
> 
> 
> 
> dan at prankstersproductions.com
> ************************************
> http://www.prankstersproductions.com
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gllug-admin at linux.co.uk [mailto:gllug-admin at linux.co.uk]On Behalf
> Of Christopher Hunter
> Sent: 30 June 2003 22:10
> To: gllug at linux.co.uk
> Subject: Re: [Gllug] EU patents
> 
> 
> On Monday 30 Jun 2003 3:45 pm, Alain Williams wrote:
> 
> 
>>A rough unsaid comment in the above is ''will someone else please do it''.
>>I'm not trying to flame Adrian in particular here, just that too many
>>people sit around moaning gently and eventually complain ''no one did
>>anything''.
> 
> 
> Unfortunately, in the Real World [TM], no amount of "lobbying" will achieve
> anything!  Despite their protestations to the contrary, ALL politicians are
> "bought", irrespective of their supposed allegiances.  The OS "lobby" hasn't
> got the money to compete with the likes of M$, and it's just a matter of
> time
> before we're beset with an EU version of DMCA, all sorts of bizarre patents,
> and perpetual legal action.
> 
> Remember - whatsoever Bill wants, Bill gets.....
> 
> Gloomily
> 
> Chris
> 
> "It doesn't matter who you vote for, the "Government" always gets in!"
> - Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Bnd
> 
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> Gllug mailing list  -  Gllug at linux.co.uk
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> 
> 


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