Also she sent out this PR in January
Alex
Begin forwarded message:
> From: "DOYLE Avril" <adoyle(a)europarl.eu.int>
> Date: January 31, 2005 22:14:49 GMT+08:00
> To: "DOYLE Avril ASSISTANT" <adoyle-assistant(a)europarl.eu.int>
> Subject: Software Patents - Innovation or Litigation? - Doyle
>
> AVRIL DOYLE MEP
> For The East
> Leader of the Irish Delegation of the EPP-ED
>
> Monday 31st January 2005
>
> PRESS STATEMENT
>
> Software Patents - Innovation or Litigation?
>
> · Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates to address MEPs
> · Doyle questions the impact of proposed Software Patents
> Directive
>
> Speaking in advance of meetings to be held tomorrow (Tuesday) between
> Bill Gates, the chairman of Microsoft, and representatives of the
> European Parliament, Avril Doyle MEP called on the Council and the
> Parliament to carefully consider the implications of the draft
> directive on computer implemented inventions or the "Software Patents
> Directive".
>
> The Directive, which is currently being debated in the European
> Council, prior to a second reading in the Parliament, aims to clarify
> and harmonise the laws of the EU Member States, in line with Europe´s
> obligations under the WTO’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of
> Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The implications of this
> legislation for Irish software developers and the economy at large are
> a matter of great concern. It will considerably clarify strengthen the
> mandate of the European Patents Office by codifying existing case-law.
>
> Doyle said "While a proper legislative framework is required to
> provide legal certainty for businesses operating in the area of
> software development, we need to be extremely careful that the right
> balance is struck between safeguarding affordable access to basic
> information for both large and small IT companies, and protecting the
> intellectual property of developers who design genuinely innovative
> products".
>
> "Protection for legitimate investment in research and development is
> essential to foster innovation, however US-style patents are not the
> only option. The effects of large-scale pre-emptive patenting by the
> software industry big players is a highly contentious issue in the
> United States. Many experts are of the belief that the US patenting
> system has directly led to the establishment of monopolies and a
> consequent reduction in competition - the end result of which has been
> a restriction of choice and increased prices for consumers.
> Legislators in Europe must learn from the experience of the United
> States before setting rules at a European level. I will be very
> interested to hear the views of Mr. Gates in relation to this debate".
>
> Commenting on the key points of dispute in the draft Directive, Doyle
> said "Above all, we do not want to go down the road of instigating
> lengthy legal battles. The wording of the Directive must be
> sufficiently unambiguous to keep disputes over intellectual property
> in this highly dynamic field out of court in so far as possible.
> Without a clear definition of what constitutes a "technical
> contribution to the state of the art", that takes into account rapid
> technological advances, the legislation will not be worth the paper it
> is written on".
>
> ENDs
>
> For further information please contact:
> Majella O Doherty M: 00 32 475 75 22 53 E: modoherty(a)europarl.eu.int
>
> Or Avril Doyle MEP for the East
> T: 00 32 2 28 47584
>
> - The Fine Gael Delegation belongs to the EPP-ED which is the largest
> and most influential political group in the European Parliament.
Alex alex(a)cgce.net
--
Interpol and Deutsche Bank, FBI and Scotland Yard
Flensburg and the BKA, have our data.
Kraftwerk, ComputerWelt (translated)