[Sussex] A letter to our MEPs and MPs

[Mark Harrison]

Geoff,

I'm comfortable that we support the work of the FSF _insofar as it pertains
to this specific piece of lobbying._

I am less comfortable with a carte blanche statement that we, as a LUG,
support them unequivocally, which I'm never sure I do!

My view is that OpenSource software has a place, but that closed source
software has a place as well, and that "whoever pays the money or time for
the development" should have the right to choose which they release.
(Obviously, this applies to "software from new" rather than "modifying
someone else's", where the original developer's rights need to be
respected.)

M.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Geoff Teale" <gteale at cmedltd.com>
To: "LUG email list for the Sussex Counties" <sussex at mailman.lug.org.uk>
Sent: Monday, October 11, 2004 12:50 PM
Subject: Re: [Sussex] A letter to our MEPs and MPs


> Steve,
>
> OK.  To be rigourous we should reference Knuths open letter to the US
> PTO regarding the reason why it is illogical to patent software
> (explaining who Knuth is and why his opinion is worth at least as much
> as the an businessmans):
>
> http://lpf.ai.mit.edu/Patents/knuth-to-pto.txt
>
> .. we should also state clearly that we support the efforts of the Free
> Software Foundation with regard to Software Patents and give the address
> of the Free Software Foundations european website - pointing out that
> the EU respects the FSF(E) enough to include them on the panel assessing
>   Microsofts appeal in the European antitrust case.
>
> -- 
> Geoff
>
>
>
> Steve Dobson wrote:
> > Geoff (at al)
> >
> > On Mon, Oct 11, 2004 at 09:32:12AM +0100, Geoff Teale wrote:
> >
> >>Sorry been away from my mail, should have posted this sooner in the
> >>conversation.
> >
> >
> > You're forgiven :-)
> >
> >
> >>I think this is a grand idea to help fight software patents but a word
> >>of warning.  It's fine to use US cases as an example of what can go
> >>wrong, but don't use it as the be-all and end-all of your argument, it
> >>just won't cut in in the UK or the EU.  Before getting involved in such
> >>a discussion it is important to be well researched and understand the
> >>issue as it faces us in the UK.
> >
> >
> > I am attempting to show how US Software Patent laws could effect UK &
> > Europe now.  It seams that I am failing.  To that end I have changed
> > the end of paragraph 4 to read:
> >      If Sun Microsystems and Kodak had not settled out of court then
> >      it is conceivable that Sun Microsystems could have stop developing
> >      Java, as a result the Java community would have collapsed and
> >      thousands of Java programming jobs lost here in the UK and across
> >      Europe.
> >
> > I've also added a reference to the current holders of EU Software
Patents
> > showing how far EU companies are behind the US & Japan.  This is a
strong
> > numerical backup to Mark's argument. (Paragraph 15)
> >
> >
> >>Time to peddle the "party line".
> >>
> >>I would strongly urge this group to join the larger, better researched
> >>and better funded effort to campaign against Software Patents within the
> >>EU (which is, after all where these decisions are being driven).  The
> >>Free Software Foundation's European branch is dealing with software
> >>patents as a priority  - see this open letter:
> >>
> >>http://www.fsfeurope.org/projects/swpat/letter-20040510.en.html
> >>
> >>Note that writing to your MP is an action item in this letter.  So for
> >>now, lets send this letter, with the example given, but lets reference
> >>the material and efforts of the Free Software Foundation.  That is lets
> >>frame our message with the weight of an organisation with a strong
> >>understanding of EU law and a well thought out case that already has the
> >>ear of the important players.
> >
> >
> > As SLUG has no funds then writing to our M(E)Ps is the best way we can
> > help.  I am all for our letter being copied to the FSFeurope so they can
> > add us to their list of people objecting to Software Patents.
> >
> >
> >>I would urge you all to:
> >>
> >> - Bring the work of the FSF in Europe to the attention of your MP.
> >
> >
> > If you would like to point me to some good examples I will happily add
> > them.
> >
> >
> >> - Donate anything you can afford to the FSF in Europe.
> >> - Best of all, join the FSF and help out.
> >
> >
> > Steve D
> >
> > The letter is available at:
> > http://www.sussex.lug.org.uk/software-patents-letter.pdf
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Sussex at mailman.lug.org.uk
> > http://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/sussex
> >
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