[SWLUG] Fwd: [GreenSource] Last chance for MEPs to stop software patents

Thu Jun 30 19:20:04 UTC 2005

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "VANDEWALLE Laurence" <lvandewalle at europarl.eu.int>
> Date: 30 June 2005 13:58:04 BST
> To: <greensource at lists.collectifs.net>
> Subject: [GreenSource] Last chance for MEPs to stop software patents
>
>
> THE GREENS/EFA IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
> PRESS RELEASE – Brussels, 30June 2005
>  
> Greens/EFA building alliance to defend 21 key amendments
>
> Last chance for MEPs to stop software patents
>
>  
>
> The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament are in the process of 
> building an alliance of colleagues from other political groups to stop 
> the introduction of software patents in the controversial 
> computer-implemented inventions (CII) directive. MEPs will vote on the 
> directive in next week's plenary session in Strasbourg. The alliance 
> is uniting around a set of 21 core amendments that would strictly 
> define the scope of what exactly is patentable in the directive, and 
> prevent the kind of ambiguity that large software companies are 
> forcefully lobbying for.
>
>  
>
> Speaking at a press conference in Brussels this morning, Eva 
> Lichtenberger, Austrian member of the legal affairs committee, said:
>
>  
>
> "In the 21 amendments that were tabled by political groups and 
> dissenting minorities within the EPP and the Liberals, we propose a 
> clear distinction between software – which is protected by copyright, 
> and technical inventions – that should be patentable. The amendments 
> would make the Parliament's text much clearer than the Council's 
> position, which is based on the European Patent Office's current 
> practice of granting patents on software despite being against its own 
> rules and the European patent convention. I ask all MEPs to choose to 
> protect innovation and SMEs and prevent patents on software. They 
> should listen to the SMEs in their own constituencies whose economic 
> existence is at stake if the Council's position comes into force."
>
>  
>
> "Software is developed, not invented. It is a process that builds on 
> previous advances and developments. It would be paralysed by the 
> introduction of a system of patents. Inventions can and should be 
> protected by patents, as the time-limited monopoly grants their 
> developers an opportunity to recuperate their investment costs. But 
> software patents will drive small developers either out of business or 
> into a situation where, unable to pay the costs of patent lawyers, 
> they will have no option but to sell up to the people suing them. This 
> potential for market domination is the reason why most lobbying firms 
> in Brussels are currently working flat out on behalf of big software 
> companies to win a favourable vote."
>
>  
>
> Monica Frassoni, co-president of the Greens/EFA group, added:
>
>  
>
> "This is a symbolic fight. It is a fight to defend liberty and 
> innovation in  Europe and to protect small entrepreneurs from the 
> predatory tactics of large software companies. The Parliament won a 
> major victory to exclude software patents from the CII directive in 
> first reading, only to have our position ignored by the Council and 
> Commission. The next days present a final opportunity for MEPs to 
> listen to the people, defend Europe's innovative small software 
> businesses and reject legalising software patents."
>
>  
>
> Daniel Cohn-Bendit, co-president of the Greens/EFA group, concluded:
>
>  
>
> "Across Europe there is a debate underway about how to make European 
> businesses more competitive and dynamic and remove the burden of 
> bureaucracy on them. The best contribution the Parliament can make to 
> this debate is to reject introducing patents for software. I find it 
> difficult to understand how certain governments can reconcile their 
> programmes to reduce 'red tape' on industry, with their support of 
> software patents in this directive. Tony Blair is particularly guilty 
> of this inconsistency."
>
>  
>
> [ENDS]
>
>
>  
>
> Notes to editors:
>
>  
>
> The 21 compromise amendments to the Rocard report on the patentability 
> of computer-implemented inventions, tabled by the Greens/EFA Group 
> yesterday, are attached.
>
>  
>
> High resolution photographs from a photocall this morning are 
> available for media use free of charge from: 
> http://www.greens-efa.org/en/issues/?id=14. For the audiovisual media, 
> EBS also covered both the photocall and press conference. Their 
> material is available to broadcasters to use free of charge. For more 
> information see: http://europa.eu.int/comm/ebs/
>
>  
> *******************************************************
> Press service of the Greens/EFA group
> in the European Parliament
>  
> Damian Connon
>  
> Tel:    +32 2 284 16 67 (Brussels)
>           +33 3 881 74 37 5 (Strasbourg)
> GSM: +32 472 21 57 95
> Fax:    +32 2 284 49 44
> Email:  dconnon at europarl.eu.int
> URL: www.greens-efa.org
> Office: PHS 2C037, Parlement européen, 1047 Bruxelles, Belgium
>   
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