[SWLUG] Software patents

[Dick Bain]

Below is something that came fron EDLUG, I just signed :-)
Dick

I've read stuff in the Linux mags about software patent legislation, but 
has anyone seen this?

http://petition.eurolinux.org/index.html

The consensus that I've picked up is that it would be detrimental to OSS
because the big multinationals would come after anyone who created 
software that even vaguely mimic'd their wares. I've heard Red Hat are 
taking out patents to 'protect' themselves. Would this herald the death 
of Sourceforge* and computing as we know it, or is it mountains and 
molehills?

Andrew


*picked purely at random.
Substitute any bunch of enthusiasts of your choosing.