[Sussex] A letter to our MEPs and MPs

Mon Oct 11 13:48:49 UTC 2004

Mark

I absolutely agree with this.  This statement of support should only be 
in the context of this specific issue.

--
Geoff Teale

Mark Harrison wrote:
> 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
>>>
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>Sussex mailing list
>>>Sussex at mailman.lug.org.uk
>>>http://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/sussex
>>>
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