{OT} software patents a danger to freeware ?

[* ProteanThread *]

American Version:

http://www.arl.org/info/frn/copy/ucitapg.html


European Union Version:

http://swpat.ffii.org/index.en.html


Comments?

 

[digitalMOSQUITO]

American Version:

http://www.arl.org/info/frn/copy/ucitapg.html


European Union Version:

http://swpat.ffii.org/index.en.html


Comments?

That the EU is worse than the USA. Incapable of learning from their
mistakes and doing even worse.

And the fact that the commission ignore completly the decision of
European parlemant about software patents. I have lost my faith in the
EU and I will against the new constitution.

It is not only a danger to open source software and even freeware but
most importantly to our freedom.

The danger to freeware is obvious. Anyone remembers the GIF patent. No
one made available a freeware graphics application capable of saving gif
.. Even the PaintShop Pro release for free with some Magazines didn't
that option.

Some losers with banal patents will make blackmail with some lucrative
company(ies) and the big, powerful companies will crush rivals through
patents or creating file formats incompatible (like microsoft always do)
creating more monopolies. And we all know how good monopolies are, don't we?

It's the same old story. Money and power and corrupt politicians.
Thank god for that.

dM