Re: [Fsfe-uk] Munich, swpat and Linux - possible in UK

[Ralph Janke]

Robin Green wrote:

> On Thu, Aug 05, 2004 at 09:41:37AM +0100, Alex Hudson wrote:
>  
>
> > On Thu, 2004-08-05 at 02:00 +0100, Tom Chance wrote:
> >    
> >
> > > After the recent news about the Green Party stirring the city of Munich into 
> > > anti-software patent action [1], it made me think: would this be remotely 
> > > possible in the UK? 
> > >      
> > Surely stopping the roll-out of Free Software because of some fear of
> > software patents is mostly akin to cutting your nose off to spite your
> > face? I can't think Munich's actions would be something we should try to
> > replicate in this country.
> >    
>
> It's a nice piece of political brinkmanship. Temporarily losing Munich city
> council to MS would be a minor setback compared to losing the fight to ban
> software patents in Europe. I think the FFII and the Greens were right to raise
> this issue and point out a concrete example for patents stifling reform in this 
> way.
>
> Of course, it would be pointless if the EU member states were entirely beholden
> to the likes of Microsoft and couldn't be persuaded by threats to indigenous
> software businesses... but as we've seen, that isn't the case with all EU
> governments.
>  
I think some of the issue is just hot air....

1) It would have to be investigated how many patents will be held up in 
court. I do not believe a lot of them have been tested yet. And novelty 
and/or inventive step are hurdles a lot of patents might fail at the end 
(see the Bromcom case).

2) It might be good that a public authority with high profile has to 
deal with the issue since it will often be decided rather than settled 
behind closed doors (see Bromcom, the DfES went the whole way, while a 
company before caved in and settled).

3) Even if the Free Software movement would loose some projects now, the 
publicity that this would stir up about the issue of patent monopolies 
that are totally counter-productive to any competitive market and cost 
the tax payers unbelievable sums of money might have an effect that is 
needed to find a majority of people who see software patents as a threat 
and are willing to put political pressure on the topic.

4) Maybe it is time to raise the issue why the EU hands out grants (tax 
payers money) for Free Software Projects and boycotts them in turn with 
their Patent policies

5) Maybe it is time to raise the issue why the EU pays tax payers money 
for grants that use the money in pay M*croso$t tax...

I believe as much publicity comes from this and is channeled the right 
way (Public relation people volunteer to give background to the media 
outlets !!!) as better for the fight against software patents...

Ralph Janke