Re: [Patents] patents in europe...

[critto@wp.pl]

Date sent:              Sun, 18 May 2003 18:35:24 +0200
To:                     critto@wp.pl
Copies to:              Hartmut Pilch <phm@a2e.de>, patents@aful.org
Subject:                Re: [Patents] patents in europe...
From:                   Xavi Drudis Ferran <xdrudis@tinet.org>

> El Sun, May 18, 2003 at 05:54:04PM +0200, critto@wp.pl deia:
> > 
> > But why ??? Aren't there any pro-open source MEPs or 
> > Commission members ?? Hasn't the directive forcing the EU govts 
> > to prefer the use of Open Source software passed (or is about to 
> > pass) ?? Why should he 'fear' of 'being politically isolated' for doing
> > so ?? Anyway, isn't it his public duty?? What are the means of forcing
> > the EU officials to pay their duty ?? Is the litigation of swindlers the
> > only way?? Or are there some other?? 
> >
> 
> Well, basically because understanding the issues costs effort and time,
> and decision makers have lots of decisions to make, not only this one, so
> they can be expected tofollow the tide in most, except a few were they
> take more interest.

Uh. That explains nothing, because in the previous sw pat case (yr 
2000), many MEPs were in strong opposition; they knew what's 
actually happening. I hope that this case the plenary vote will sink 
(not pass) this directive, too, but what about this JURI? Why not 
just inform all the members of this committee asking them not to 
listen to McCarthy?? The 'aggressive' people like her must 
sometimes be faced with the similiar, or even the same aggression 
they show; it's like with the (real, sea) sharks :) you may scare 
one, but only if you are as aggressive as it is. And it's a pity that a 
lot of politicians care more about their 'career' than about their 
public duty (regardless of their politicial views). When it's the 
contrary, everyone is in danger (not only the software 
programmers; the next directive may be the one legalising 
censorship of the press, or something similiar). 

EU=Banana Republic Europe?? EC=European Crookery ?? 
EP=European Palterers?? I really don't know (and I am generally 
pro-EU) ...

> > Does anyone know the address of Arlene McCarthy ?? Why not 
> > 'flood' her e-mail account with anti-patent attacks??
> >
> 
> Because that would only help her think those who ask for no swpats
> are some form of radical crazy people, and those nice people who 
> come to visit MEPs in their offices with nice dresses and position
> papers are reasonable people, easy to deal with, and therefore more
> worth listening to. 

But those 'radical crazy people' could be good at converting the 
voters against her; those 'r.c.p' could be good at sniffing a patent 
swindle, and pursuing it in the course of a legal action (is any 
planned ???) But OK, maybe ya're a better lobbyist than me, so I 
give up :) to your methods ...

> EU citizens have some right to send their opinion to their MEPs, and
> to help them understand the issues, but destroying communication
> channels by email attacks is plain silly (and counterproductive).
> Can't you simply send her (or any MEP of your choice) a nice mail with
> your arguments?. Or phone them or send a fax or whatever...

Uh. Sorry, I've thought about the same thing. "To flood" meant not 
DoSing or so, but calling _many_ people to contact A. McCarthy; 
such an action could 'block' her communication channel, but it 
would have one advantage, too: she would become aware that 
there are _many_ people who oppose sw patents; if one person 
send one mail (or two), and there were, say, 50000 persons, it still 
would be 'flooding', but the reasonable one.

I'd love to contact her with a letter; if you have any pattern of such a 
text, please feel free to forward it, and I will send it (but I must 
know her address; I don't care that it's not 'my mep', I may contact 
all of them, regardless of a country)

Yours,
Critto