Re: [Patents] patents in europe...

[critto@wp.pl]

Date sent:              Sun, 18 May 2003 22:17:01 +0200 (CEST)
From:                   Hartmut Pilch <phm@a2e.de>
To:                     Taavi Dovnar <taavid@luunja.edu.ee>
Copies to:              patents@aful.org
Subject:                Re: [Patents] patents in europe...

> > > patenting.  This coincided with a campaign, begun in 1997 by EPO &
> > > friends, to change the law, both at the EPC and EU level.
> >
> > And they could not change the law in 2000. Then they wanted to change
> > only EPC?? Has any polticians/institutions changed their opinions since
> > that?
> 
> No, the patent lobby has always wanted to change both.
> 
> The ICC IP Committee last year again called on politicians to change the
> EPC, and McCarthy's latest "compromise amendment" also calls for changing
> it.

I'm really disappointed with ICC (Intl. Commerce Chamber). I've 
always held them as a good, non-state alternative to resolve the 
disputes arising in the international trade (their Incoterms are 
wonderful IMHO).  What do they know, however, of patents?? Of 
software ?? Of the IT ?? It's certainly *NOT* their domain, and they 
should not interfere here with other businesses, which are more 
closely related with the matter in question.

>   
>  http://swpat.ffii.org/players/icc/
>  http://swpat.ffii.org/papers/eubsa-swapt0202/juri0304/
> 
> Most politicians in governmental positions have alawys thought that they
> must say a few nice words about "opensource" but, apart from that, obey
> the traditional owners of patent policy.

Yep. That's another deceptive trick. Hartmut, I want to ask you seriously: 
aren't 
you going to litigate against those MEPs who use deception as a 
weapon against the public, making the dispute arising to an 
international swindle? As Polish, I'm very sensitive to such affairs 
(our latest one, "Rywingate", wasn't the only one in my country; 
there was a 'gelatin scandal' (huge amounts of gelatin have been 
reportedly imported without medical control for the presence of 
BSE), few years ago, when the risk of BSE was really serious), 
and I hold the legal way (litigation, criminal investigation, hearing at 
the special commissions, etc) as a good one. What do you think 
?? Isn't it what we *should* do if the sw patents passed? Isn't it 
something which we should loudly and publicly 'consider' to teach 
the swindlers some respect ?? To scare them ?? 

Or, what about changing this directive after it passes? Now, there 
are ideas to change the VI Directive (on VAT taxes), and they are 
being lobbied by ... some Polish business groups (three cheers for 
the Poles; we aren't in the EU yet, but we're already fighting to 
make it better!:) and I'm certainly *pro* accession (joining EU by 
Poland), and then making some neccessary changes from within. 

The EU decisive processes now remind a one big brothel; few 
people there care  for the morals, most care just for the _money_, 
wherever it comes from; they never say 'no'; if the sw pats be 
passed, they will be just another mindless regulation, which will be 
very harmful to the software here (what we know already). 

But, seriously, what do you think? Shall we win? What about JURI, 
how are the chances now, after the conference (I haven't seen any 
new materials on FFII in English) ?? What about other MEPs, 
those at the plenary vote? What attitude they appear to show ?? 
We must face it, Hartmut, without cheating ourselves (it won't help 
anything; the truth will empower us) ?? I'm really sorry for having so 
little time ... :((( 

I CROSS MY FINGERS on you !!! And on others anti-patent folks!!!

Yours,
Krzysztof "Critto" Sobolewski
 critto@wp.pl, http://www.libertaryzm.prv.pl